Blow Horn

Breaking The Silence

2010-04-17T09:29:00.007-04:00

Today is the Breaking The Silence main event in Fresno, CA. From their Facebook Fan Site: Breaking the Silence is a Fresno-based, not-for-profit organization, dedicated to raising public awareness of child abuse realities and prevention techniques through survivor empowerment and community education.

My friends Dakota & Corky Draconi are activists. This of course, is only one of the hats they each wear. They are also survivors, partners, parents, students, educators, taxi-cab drivers . . . They are, also, two of my best friends. I admire their passion and commitment to giving a voice to countless children who suffer abuse daily. They have also created a memorial to the lost victims of child abuse. They call it The Wall of Tears:

Everyday, in America, 4 children die as the result of child abuse. 4. Every day. Today. Yesterday. Tomorrow. Kids are dying in America. My friends, and their organization, use The Wall of Tears as seen above, and The Wall of Tears Online Book of Tears to memorialize the children whose voices will never be heard again.

BTS also works to educate the community about child abuse. They speak to community groups and college classes to spread the word about child abuse in America today. BTS provides current statistical information, but they also provide strategies for detecting abuse and information about what to do if you suspect abuse. Finally, they try to empower survivors of abuse. By taking abuse out of the shroud of secrecy it depends on, and putting a spotlight to it, BTS provides survivors with the information that they are not alone. It was not their fault. Through open mic events, BTS provides opportunities for survivors to break their silence and share their truths.

Dakota and Corky are my friends. They are also my heroes. I am not an activist, I sometimes wish I were, but its not where my passion is. I'm so thank for Dakota, Corky, BTS and other organizations & people like them that find their passion in activism and work so hard to change our world.

I'm not an activist. But I AM a survivor. I survived years of physical, sexual and emotional abuse. It's not a secret, I long ago broke my silence. But it's not something I speak of or share in my everyday life. But today, I feel it's important to speak about it. Through the wonders of technology, particularly Facebook, I have in the last year reconnected with many friends from grade school, high school and college. In school, what was happening to me, what had happened to me, what was going to happen to me, was a secret. I never told anyone. I often thought about it, but was quite certain in my head, that teachers, friends, even strangers, would call me a liar or worse yet, reinforce what I was already quite certain of: that it was my fault, that I was bad and dirty and . . . Those were some of the many distortions planted and cultivated in my head by my perpetrators. I was an innocent, powerless child. I've spent years working hard to undo the distorted thinking and reclaim my voice. Now I am a strong, powerful woman. My abuse does not define me, but it is part of who I am. The abuse I survived, the struggle to heal, the learning to thrive, all these things contribute to the person you know today. And I'm still working to heal and I'm still learning to thrive. I share these things now, because I know that many people in my life today, and in the past, don't know I am a survivor. Sadly, I know that many people in my life are also survivors. I have several friends who I have met through survivor networks and support groups. But I know that many people in my life, both current and past friends whose survivorship is unknown to me. Perhaps they are already on their healing journey. Or maybe what they survived is still a secret. I share these things today to let them know they are not alone. I share these things today to empower my fellow survivors with these truths: You were innocent. It was not your fault. You survived the abuse. You can survive the healing. Life on the other side of healing is a-maz-ing.

I salute and thank with all my heart Corky, Dakota and the whole BTS organization for all their hard work on behalf of all the victims and all the survivors. Thank You!

Success!!!

2009-04-15T20:06:00.002-04:00

Here I am, a week after last week's post. I made it. 4 days ago I walked the Crescent City Classic for the first time. It was an awesome experience. My time was 2hrs:28mins:40secs. That's just under 25mins/mile. Yes I'm a turtle. But as I tell my patients all the time, slow and steady wins the race, that's what the tortoise taught the hare. Of course I didn't *win* the race! But I so completely feel like a winner!

I joined my friends/coaches/mentors Dave & Karen Massey at the CCC Expo on Friday. The Expo was interesting to say the least. More running clothes, shoes, socks, equipment, do-dads, etc., than I ever knew existed. Karen has partnered with a friend to sell Bondi Bands at various Expo's for running events for the next few months. Bondi Bands are kinda cool little headbands made of that wicking material that keeps sweat and sunscreen, etc from running in your eyes, and more importantly for me, keeps your hair somewhat under control while you move. Karen and Dave had picked out a cute one for me. It says: "Walking Girl". I wore it all day Friday and for the race on Saturday. It totally did help with pulling my head sweat away from my head. And my hair was out of my face the whole race.

Saturday morning I got up early and got dressed in my walking 'uniform'. Realize now, that they don't make cool running/walking clothes for people my size. So I wore what I have worn on most of my walks: a cute, pink, scrapbooking tshirt and lavender capri's. I put body glide all over my toes and the balls of my feet then put on my expensive breathable socks and my walking shoes. Last I put on my headband and my fanny pack. I met Karen and Dave down the street from my dad's in front of the Napoleon House, and we walked down past Jackson Square with the throngs of people descending on Decateur for the start of the race. After some quick pictures and hugs, Dave was off to join the running people, while Karen and I waited around for the masses of people to pass us by heading for the start line. Finally, after about 5mins we joined the pack walking toward the start. We passed the actual start line at 11mins:06secs. That means that by the time we had reached the start line, the elite racers (aka the Kenyans) had passed the 2 mile mark!!

We walked slowly at first because we were in a large pack of walkers. But slowly, and constantly we were passed by faster walkers. Finally the pack thinned out and before I knew it we were at the 1 mile point. I took some water and kept walking. My hip and knee (L) were achy, but I knew from my training, that if I kept going they would settle down and they did.

It was very interesting to walk through the streets of New Orleans. It certainly gives you a different perspective on our city. Mile 2 came and went and I felt like I was in a good stride. Karen who walked with me, commented that my pace was good. I was glad to hear that because I felt so slow since we were still being passed continually. Mile 3 and the 5K mark came up and I was glad to know I was halfway there. When I reached Mile 4 I was starting to hurt a little. I could feel a hot spot on the ball of my Right foot. This ticked me off because I had coated it with body glide and put on my expensive no blister socks. I told Karen that in the next few weeks I wanted her to go with me to get better shoes and also to check into an orthotic for my shoes because the blisters have been a problem for me every walk 3 miles or longer. I had blister band aids in my fanny pack. But, I didn't stop when I felt the hotspot and by mile 5 I knew if I stopped I would stiffen up and have trouble making it to the end. So, I just kept walking. I tried wiggling my toes and found myself walking weirdly trying not to aggravate the blister. (I have been paying for this in hip and back pain since the race . . .sigh I know better now).

Between miles 4 & 5 I started noticing people walking the opposite direction, back down the street I was walking up. At first I thought they were going backwards for some unknown reason. Then Karen told me they were finished and were leaving the park. The very same park I had not yet reached and did not have in sight yet. I told Karen "I hate those people!"

Somewhere around 5.25 miles I was hurting all the time. I got very quiet. Karen regaled me with tales from her training for and running her first marathon. I am soooo thankful Karen was with me. Because when it started hurting I would have lost my mind trying to keep going by myself. She kept reassuring me I was going to make it. I just nodded mostly. But in my head I was telling her back: of course I'm going to make it, I haven't worked this hard and told everyone I know to stop with less than a mile to go. So I plugged along.

Finally, we came around NOMA to Roosevelt. I knew the race ended on Roosevelt. I could see down the way a bit some kind of contraption across the road. I was hoping it was the finish, but realized we had not yet crossed the 6 mile mark. The contraption was the picture taking people. But the end was near. Karen had called Dave and he ran alongside the course for the last tenth of a mile or so clapping and cheering loudly. Dave's brother Marcus was at the finish line with their video camera to get the finish on tape! Karen and I walked across the finish line together with our arms around each other. We had done it. I had met my goal. I turned to ask her where the beds where and I was tacklehugged by Dave. He almost knocked me off my feet and he held me up in his hug til i got my balance back. He hugged me sooooo tight. He was so proud! I was overwhelmed.

We slowly made our way to the post race area. Dave got me a cold water but the fruit was all gone and the free beer lines were very long. Bag of Donuts was rocking out but I just hurt and wanted to sit. Karen and Dave decided we should go since i was so tired. It was such a great thing for them to do for me. They could have stayed to party a while longer. Marcus went to get the car and met us at Marconi & Marconi. Getting into the car was harder than I expected, because my whole left leg was hurting. But sitting down was worth it all. Just having the pressure off my hips and knees and back. We ended up taking a circuitous route back to the quarter (by way of River Ridge, lol). But, it was all good. Once I was sitting I was fine. I was worried about whether my legs would work when it was time to get out of the car. When we got to the Quarter my legs were stiff but had somewhat of a second wind. Karen came in with me while Dave went to park the car.

My dad told me later I was moving slow, and a little bent over, but I was smiling from ear to ear! Karen, Dave & I went to get food at Johnny's Poboy and sat in the courtyard of my Dad's place and ate together. It was great to get to spend some relaxing time with them while they talked to me about how well I did and about what we would work on next. When they left I went inside and peeled off my shoes and socks. My left foot as usual was fine. But my right foot had 2 HUGE blisters on the ball of my foot. I put on the blister band aids and laid down to try to rest. That was not as easy as I had hoped it would be, but I rested enough to shower and change to go out to dinner with my dad and Joann. I did have to wear my Crocs to dinner because my feet were still swollen and I couldn't get them in my black dress boots. My dad told everyone about my walking the CCC. He was really proud of me. That felt good. I was really proud of me. That felt awesome!

I'm still incredibly proud of myself. I'm still achy, esp my left hip and SI joint/back. But, I'm resting my joints and using ice and its almost back to normal. I haven't yet walked again this week because it's been a crazy week at work. But I want to walk to/at the beach this weekend when I head down to Ocean Springs to see the coast fam.

I did it. I walked my first 10K. I have so many people to thank. Karen and Dave Massey are at the top of my list. I could not have done this without their training schedule and support. They made the CCC all about me and my success. They are special people who are great coaches. My friend Ann has been a big cheerleader for me from the beginning. I took several of my early longer walks from her house, in her neighborhood. Maybe next year or the year after when you are completely recovered from your surgery you will walk the CCC with me my friend! My friend Michelle helped me find an indoor place to get in my 5 miles on a treadmill when it was rainy and in the low 50s in DC the weekend of Lucas' bday. She cheered me on as I struggled to get the 5 miles done on the boring treadmill, while she was doing her own workout. My brother, Rich, and my sister in law Barbara, as well as my friend Dee were all very supportive of my walking and their support meant alot. It meant so much that ya'll believed in me and supported my work toward my goal. My scrapbooking friends in Melbourne, Nancy, Sherri S, Sherry J, Rae, (oh I know I'm leaving out someone), these ladies supported me and cheered me on at crops after my Saturday walks. I truly had so much support. And I did it. I really did it. I walked my first 10K. Wow.

Watch out Crescent City Classic, here I come!

2009-04-08T18:30:00.002-04:00

I can hardly believe its only 3 days until I will be walking the CCC! I'm both excited and nervous! But I'm also completely confident in myself! I will finish! I've worked really hard to get ready for this. Anyone who knows me, knows I am morally opposed to sweating for any reason! LOL And believe me when I tell you I work up a sweat walking longer distances. Exercise has not really interested me, in fact I find it completely boring. But I have really enjoyed training for the CCC. It's been a very goal directed process. And I've watched myself grow in confidence and ability over the last 13 weeks.

I want to take a moment to thank my coaches/mentors Karen and Dave Massey. Both of them are truly inspirational people in my life. And both of them are dear friends as well. They have played a huge roll in the success of my training for the CCC. They created my training schedule for me. And took a woman whose legs were screaming for relief after a 15 minute walk 3 months ago, and transformed me into a walking machine! And, I might add, they did all this long distance. Having Dave and Karen to coach and mentor me through this, has been a transforming experience. And I know they will continue to be there to work toward many other goals as I continue this amazing transformation. You can get more information about Karen and Dave the website for their non profit: A Good Day, Inc.

I would say the hardest part of the training for me was walking or exercising after work. I work very hard all day. Occupational Therapy is a very physical job. I start early with showering and other ADLs (activities of daily living) and then exercise my patients to prepare them to return home. I walk up and down the hallways of the hospital/nursing home all day. I lift people and assist them with all sorts of activities. I am TIRED at the end of my day. All I want to do is go home and collapse onto the sofa until bedtime. I wish I were more of a morning person, so I could walk before work. But to get up and walk 30mins, then shower and be at work by 7, geeze I'd have to get up at 530 or earlier! Of course now that I've written it, I'm sitting here wondering if I could do that for 2 mornings a week. Then maybe I could do some yoga on the other evenings after work. Hmmmm, its a thought. Can I really be transforming into a morning person? Say it isn't so! (have I mentioned I'm also morally opposed to mornings?)

So, tonight I'm packing my bags for my weekend trip home to NOLA! I head out tomorrow after my CPR class, which is after work. I'm off on Friday so I can go *REGISTER* (yes, I forgot to do it - I'm using my lack of internet service at home as my excuse! LOL) and attend the Expo for the CCC. Also going to the Odinet Crawfish Boil, mmmmmmmm my first boiled crawfish in over 2 years! I'm staying at my Aunt Rosie's house in Arabi and I'm excited to get to visit with her and all the cousins. I'm also hoping to get to see my friend Dee at Scrappersaurus this weekend. And of course walk the CCC with Karen (Dave is running so he will be waiting for us at the finish line). My Dad is taking me to dinner Saturday night if I can still walk! And then we are doing brunch on Sunday before I head back up here to Natchez.

Quick Update!

2009-03-19T21:43:00.002-04:00

Lots to share tonight!

Started my new job in Natchez, Mississippi. Nice people at work. Found an apartment today! Yay! Close to work in a nice neighborhood. Garage Apartment with built in pets! (Landlord has 2 dogs and 3 cats!). Hoping to move in this weekend! Hopefully I will be able to share the adventures I've had finding an apartment here. I have a couple of tales to tell!

Happy Birthday to my Dad! He turned 76 yesterday! He's doing great after his knee replacement. He still works full time at the DA's office. I'm looking forward to seeing him at Luc's birthday next weekend in DC. And I'm even MORE looking forward to visiting HOME the following weekend!

Well wishes to my friend and wellness mentor/coach Karen. She had a kidney removed today and is doing great! She actually called me this afternoon. Wishing you a speedy recovery my friend! I'll push you in the CCC if necessary, hehe.

Congratulations to my cousin Michael on the birth of his 3rd son, Brody. And of course congratulations to Nana and Aunt Heather. Very much looking forward to visiting you all on the coast while I'm here in Natchez.

Special thanks to my friend Ann for riding out here with me from Florida. Ann has become my official relocation traveling partner. And thanks to Fred for letting me steal his wife for our adventures!

Ann and I stopped at the most fabulous scrapbook store in the universe -- Scrappersaurus, in Mandeville and had lunch with our great friends/owner Dee and Emery. We missed Felix who was dealing a bee issue! Next time Felix! I'm sooo looking forward to cropping with my old Scrappersaurus friends again!

My 1st college roommate, Linda, found me on the internet and wrote to me. How exciting is that?!? She invited me to join her facebook group for our Sorority, Chi Omega, Mu Theta Chapter. And I totally caved and joined facebook. I'm excited to be in touch with old friends again! And with family spread out all over the country as well. Thanks Linda!

I have to get up early tomorrow to go do ADLs with my new lady, so I'll say goodnight here. Hope everyone has a fab weekend!

Walking to New Orleans

2009-03-04T17:33:00.002-05:00

Well not literally. But almost.

I'm officially in training for the Crescent City Classic! I actually started my training my first week of work. But got a little side-tracked after the 'firing' episode. I got back on track and had a great 2 mile walk in the morning, and came down with the flu that evening. 3 weeks later after bronchitis set in and I needed a Zpack and an inhaler, I'm back to walking.

My current regimen is to walk 1.5 miles twice a week after work, and exercise twice a week after work, rest on Friday, and then have my long, distance building walk on Saturday, resting again on Sunday.

Yes, I actually exercised yesterday. And, yes, I needed 2 ice packs and 3 ibuprofen to get my legs to stop squawking before bedtime. But I was fine this morning and walked my mile and a half after work. Tomorrow I exercise again, but the focus is arms, so hopefully it wont be as hard on the body.

My legs are doing most of the work with the walking. And they work all day long carrying me and all my excess weight around. I wish I could say my eating was going well, but it just seems to be going and going. Lately I have been extremely hungry in the evenings and at night. Some of it is boredom, being home alone. But not all of it. I'm struggling to get a handle on it and make better choices.

I only have 7 work days left here in Lakeland. My boss is on vacation until my last day of work. Yippee! I still don't know where I'm going next. Florida, Virginia, and Maryland are all possibilities. That is the hardest part about traveling: the uncertainty of the next assignment. But I have, and am learning to just go with the flow and believe it will all work out in the end, because it always has.

I miss the kids, but I will see them in 3 short weeks, when I fly to DC for Lucas' 7th birthday! That's exciting for sure. And I'm also excited that in just 5 week's I'll be flying home to walk the CCC.

That's all for tonight. Think of me and say a prayer that my feet, knees and hips make it to Easter in one piece! Blog soon I hope!

75. Been fired from a job

2009-02-05T19:14:00.002-05:00

Ok, so, does being fired for 1 hour count?

Yes, I'm completely serious.

About, hmmm, 3 weeks ago I was fired by my rehab director. Then he called me back about an hour after I left to see if I wanted to come back. It's quite the tale of high drama. I agreed to a 30-day notice, meaning I would work for only 30 more days instead of the full 13 weeks. It was by my choice to shorten my time. Yesterday he asked me about a 30 day extension, and I agreed. So I'm currently scheduled to be in Lakeland until about the 20th of March.

Since I don't want to make any waves at work, I'm not gonna post the juicy details. Just in case. But if you want them, call, email, or comment and I'll share the drama with you :)

Random Stuff

2009-01-19T21:27:00.003-05:00

I know I haven't blogged in a while. New years revolutions or not, life is busy and i get distracted. But I'm here tonight with some random 'stuff'.

I'm in Lakeland, FL and I've started my 2nd week of my new job. Nice people, nice patients, still in a hotel looking for housing.

My neice and nephews will be flying to Orlando tomorrow (with my brother and sister in law, hehe), for their first visit to Disneyworld. I'm totally excited for them. Ann and I are going to Disney for the weekend so I will get to see them and experience Disney with them.

I've started my training to walk the Crescent City Classic in April. I have a long way to go but i've got 12 weeks to get there!

I had a whole week off in between assignments and spent it with Ann in Melbourne. It was great to have a few days off and to get to hang out with her. We also started working on our scrapbooks for our 2 cross country trips. I'm hoping to take pictures soon to post of our layouts. They are turning out awesome. And it's been such a fun way to relive the cool trips!

So, I saw this list of things on another blog I read and thought I would play along. The things in RED are the things I've done.

1. Started your own blog Go Blow Horn!!!

2. Slept under the stars

3. Played in a band

4. Visited Hawaii I was there for my big 4-0, and again in 2007.

5. Watched a meteor shower

6. Given more than you can afford to charity

7. Been to Disneyland/world Many times to the World, Thanksgiving 2005 with my Dragonpack friends, going back to the World this weekend with Ann!!!

8. Climbed a mountain

9. Held a praying mantis Absolutely NOT gonna happen!

10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped

12. Visited Paris Summer of 1982 and Christmas vacation 1985.

13. Watched a lightning storm at sea

14. Taught yourself an art from scratch Surely Scrapbooking counts!

15. Adopted a child

16. Had food poisoning

17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty

18. Grown your own vegetables

19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France Twice.

20. Slept on an overnight train Once as a child going to Atlanta and again in Europe on my Christmas vacation trip 1985

21. Had a pillow fight Not as much fun as it sounds, imho

22. Hitch hiked

23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill Mental health days Rock!

24. Built a snow fort

25. Held a lamb

26. Gone skinny dipping

27. Run a Marathon

28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice Went to Venice summer of 1982, did NOT ride a gondola.

29. Seen a total eclipse

30. Watched a sunrise or sunset My 2 favorite Sunsets were at the Grand Canyon and in Maui, Hawaii; My favorite Sunrise was at the Grand Canyon.

31. Hit a home run Many times when i played cabbage balls as a kid.

32. Been on a cruise My last cruise was with my Granny in 1990.

33. Seen Niagara Falls in person

34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors

35. Seen an Amish community

36. Taught yourself a new language

37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied?

38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person Summer of 1982

39. Gone rock climbing

40. Seen Michelangelo’s David Twice

41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt This summer on my cross country trip. AMAZING!

43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant

44. Visited Africa

45. Walked on a beach by moonlight

46. Been transported in an ambulance

47. Had your portrait painted

48. Gone deep sea fishing

49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person Twice (yes I hit the same big visitor spots on both trips)

50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris Twice :)

51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling I love snorkling. I hope to SNUBA (a combo of snorkel and scuba)

52. Kissed in the rain

53. Played in the mud messy!

54. Gone to a drive-in theater The St. Bernard Drive In, where I saw one of my all time favorite movies, Song of the South.

55. Been in a movie

56. Visited the Great Wall of China

57. Started a business

58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia

60. Served at a soup kitchen

61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies I was a brownie for one year.

62. Gone whale watching

63. Gotten flowers for no reason

64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma I used to donate every 8 weeks when the blood bank had a blood drive at my nursing home in Franklinton every other month.

65. Gone sky diving

66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp Dachau, outside of Munich, Christmas vacation 1985, it was a place heaviness and sorrow.

67. Bounced a check Unfortunately

68. Flown in a helicopter Twice in Hawaii, over the volcano on the big island and around the island of Kauai.

69. Saved a favorite childhood toy I have a stuffed elephant, my brothers Lil' huggems baby, and have given the kids a couple of our old Fisher Price Little People toys.

70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial But the Jefferson Memorial is my favorite.
71. Eaten caviar

72. Pieced a quilt

73. Stood in Times Square Several times.

74. Toured the Everglades

75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London I've been to London twice, but have not yet seen the changing of the guard.

77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle

79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person Twice, one on a solo trip and again with the Dragonpack peeps over New Years. I think it is the most beautiful place on earth.

80. Published a book

81. Visited the Vatican Twice.

82. Bought a brand new car The only time I ever considered it was as a new grad and had my first teaching job. Now the only way it will happen is if I actually decide to by a hybrid.

83. Walked in Jerusalem

84. Had your picture in the newspaper St. Bernard Voice, for sports, school, and historical society stuff.

85. Read the entire Bible

86. Visited the White House With my family in the 8th grade.
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating

88. Had chickenpox Don't remember it!
89. Saved someone’s life

90. Sat on a jury Always wanted to, but couldn't (s0 far) because my dad was a Judge (and then a
district attorney)

91. Met someone famous I met Archie Manning at a New Orleans Jazz game at the Superdome.

92. Joined a book club

93. Lost a loved one Too many :(
94. Had a baby Can't. I like cats better, anyhow!

95. Seen the Alamo in person

96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake I saw it this summer driving cross country.

97. Been involved in a law suit

98. Owned a cell phone Just got a new LG Vu.

99. Been stung by a bee Hurts!

Made it safely to Florida :)

2009-01-04T21:49:00.002-05:00

I'm blogging from Ann's house tonight. After a 2 day drive I'm in central Florida. I'll be here for a week or so while I work on interviews for a job etc. I hope to start a job by next Monday or the following Monday. In the mean time I'm glad to have a week off to visit with my friend, get a few things done, and actually relax a bit. I'm hoping to blog again soon so I can share some pictures from Christmas.

New Years Revolutions 2009

2008-12-31T23:07:00.002-05:00

Yes, you read that right, I consider them revolutions! LOL

So, the number 44 plays a very significant role in 2009. Our 44th President will be inaugurated in just a few weeks here in DC. And for all of us born in 1965, its our 44th year and 44th birthday! So, I'm making 44 part of my new years revolutions!

So without further adieu, here they are:

1. Lose 44 pounds by my 44th birthday (November 1) *and* walk in at least 1 10K (Crescent City Classic?).

2. Save $4,400 by the end of the year, *and* reduce my debt by $4,400.

3. Make 44 scrapbook layouts/projects/cards by the end of the year.

4. Blog at least 44 times by the end of the year.

So, there they are, my 4 New Years Revolutions.

I'm spending New Years Eve playing Wii with Richard and Lucas. Jacqueline is asleep upstairs in my bed :).

Happy New Years everybody!

Sad Day for 2 Friends' Small Businesses

2008-12-27T19:54:00.002-05:00

I have 2 different friends whose small business scrapbook stores are closing this week. My friend Wendy is closing her store, Scrappin Diva's in Flowood (Jackson), MS at the end of this year. My best friend Dee, her husband Felix, and her son Emery are closing one of their two locations of Scrappersaurus. The Metairie, LA location of Scrappersaurus is closed as of the end of business today. A very sad day indeed for paper crafters in the NOLA area. Their 2nd, and now only location, in Mandeville, LA, continues to be open for business. In fact they are hosting their first ever New Years Eve/Day crop on Wednesday/Thursday!

I will feel sad when I make it back to NOLA in 2009 and can't hit my favorite scrapbook store on the way home from the airport. I will definitely head to Mandeville to visit my friends. It will be great to see them, but it won't be the same.

I will miss Metairie Scrappersaurus.

Merry Christmas

2008-12-25T01:37:00.002-05:00

Christmas 2008 is here. The kiddo's are in bed, fast asleep, finally. It took a few trys, as each of them was very excited about Santa's impending arrival. We tracked Santa with Norad and GoogleEarth. Pretty cool stuff! Santa and his elves have finished their duties. And now its time for bed for the elves, which Santa makes his way across the rest of the country.

The Gauthier family is together for this holiday and will join the Deily family on Friday for a continued celebration.

Merry Christmas to all my family and friends!

Off Track and Out of Sync

2008-11-24T19:13:00.002-05:00

I've been all off track and out of sync for a while now. I just didn't realize it. But last night it hit me. I've been just getting through the days one after another, in survival mode. It's not that I haven't been having fun with the kids and my friends here, I have. But, well, its been one thing after another and another. My routine has vanished. I'm struggling to take good care of myself. Don't worry, I'm taking care of the basics. But the extra stuff: to be gentle with myself, go the extra mile for my health and well being, those types of things have fallen off and gotten lost in the shuffle of surviving everyday life.

My work has been going well. I enjoy the people I work with very much. But I am working very hard both physically and mentally and my days are long and my body aches at the end of the week. I feel tired and decidedly un-enthusiastic in the mornings getting ready to go to work. Once I get started interacting with my patients my enthusiasm returns, but the tired lingers.

I am so very much enjoying the kids this year. They are each so unique, so interesting and so loving. I get to see them at least once a weekend. I play soccer with Richard, arts & crafts with Lucas and baby animals with Jacqueline. The time with the kids is very special to me. It replenishes me. It keeps me going.

I'm having a great time visiting with my friend Michelle. We get to see each other about every other weekend. It's great to have such a good friend here. She helps me remember to pamper myself and fully supports my efforts to make positive changes in my life.

So, its not all bad.There is lot's in my life that is good. But I'm still off track, and still out of sync. I'm hoping that simple realization is the first step to rectifying the situation. I'd like that alot.

Autumn Leaves

2008-11-02T22:49:00.003-05:00

So, my friends over at Scrappersaurus posted birthday wishes to me on their blog! Isn't that cool! In her post, Dee mentioned her jealously of my watching the leaves here turn. So I thought I would post a few pictures. Last year was my first ever getting to see a 'real' autumn. And I fell in love with the leaves. Of course the true leaf peepers will tell you the DC area leaves are nothing compared to the northeast. And I'm sure they are correct. But compared to NOLA, this is leaf peeping heaven, and I get to see it everyday!

When I was a kid I took piano lessons. I liked it ok I guess. But I hated the song "Autumn Leaves", hated it. Even to this day I can't stand that song. But as I was pulling together the pictures to post here, I had it in my head. "The falling leaves, drift by my window, the autumn leaves, of red and gold . . ." So here are a few pictures of the autumn leaves. Especially for my friend Dee!

It's my Birthday!

2008-11-01T23:01:00.002-04:00

I had a great day for my 43rd birthday. The weather here in DC was beautiful, sunny with a high in the mid 60s. I spent the day with the kids, after letting myself sleep in this morning. We did arts and crafts, played soccar, and had a great birthday dinner cooked by my wonder sister in law. I'm so lucky and loved. What a way to start off my new year!

Happy Halloween

2008-10-31T23:36:00.003-04:00

Yes, I realize it has been more than a month since I blogged. It's been a crazy October, but not in a bad way just in a busy way. Work is going well and I am having a blast with my brothers family. I will try to update you all soonly. But I didnt want to let a whole month go by without blogging. So, Happy Halloween!

A Few Pictures to Share

2008-09-27T23:58:00.009-04:00

I promised pictures of my California Adventures a few posts back, but never seemed to get around to posting them. So I thought I would share a few pictures with you tonight.

Here are a few of my favorite pictures from "The Avenue of the Giants" in Humboldt Redwoods State Park, Humboldt County, California.

And here are some of my favorites from Patrick's Point State Beach, Humboldt County, California.

And finally the last pics for tonight, here are pictures of me on the beach pictured above, Agate Beach, Big Lagoon, Humboldt County, California.

As many of you know, I can't stand the feeling of sand on my skin, especially my feet. So yes, those are sox on my feet, and yes that is all of the sand that collected in my Crocs during my walk on the beach!

My brother and the kids came to help me unload my stuff from the car today. Its all piled up on the floor chairs and tables of my apartment. I've started unpacking, it's a slow process.

I hope you've enjoyed the pictures. I have plenty more to share!

Congratulations Corky and Dakota!!!

2008-09-26T21:08:00.005-04:00

Right before I left California to begin my journey back to the east, two of my best friends got married. I was so blessed to be able to attend the wedding. I was honored to be asked to participate as part of their family of choice. I met Corky and Dakota in an online support group for survivors of childhood sexual abuse way back in 1995. They have actually been together as a couple for 12 years. And they were LEGALLY married on August 30, 2008. Although they are now legally married, they do not enjoy all the rights and privileges pertaining thereto. I don't profess to understand the legal wranglings, but I do know its just not fair.

I've been called naive and liberal for my beliefs. Which just makes me laugh as I consider the liberal label as a complement. Naive? Maybe so. I've never been in love. I've never even come close. But, yes, in my (possibly naive) way of thinking, if two adults love each other and are committed to a life together, who the heck cares what color, religion, race, sex, nationality, etc they are? If two adults are LUCKY enough to have a connection that seems rare in our world today, why should any of those things matter?

I truly did not intend this post to turn into a diatribe about gay marriage. My two friends love each other. And I love them both. I am so proud of them for embracing this chance at legal marriage.

Congratulations Corky and Dakota! May your lives together be long and full of life. And may you live to see yourself and other couples like you be granted not only the right to marry, but also be granted the rights and privileges pertaining thereto.

Richard's Golden Birthday 08-08-08

2008-09-25T21:01:00.003-04:00

Or would that be Platinum birthday? LOL

I realized when I posted the picture of Jacqueline for her birthday on Tuesday, that I had not posted a picture of Richard from his birthday. So here are 3 generations of Richard Gauthier's celebrating Richard III's 8th birthday.

Finally! In my new apartment!

2008-09-24T22:07:00.000-04:00

My furniture was delivered this afternoon! Yee Haw I'm in my own place! It's a basement apartment in the same neighborhood I lived in last year. I think I'm going to like it. I'm glad to be in my own space finally. I wont be unpacked or even unloaded from the car until this weekend. But I'm home now. And that feels good, great actually. Busy, busy, busy with the unpacking I have here already and figuring out which drawer the sox will go in this time. LOL! I hope ya'll are having a great week!

Happy Birthday Jacqueline!

2008-09-23T23:03:00.000-04:00

My first (and only) neice turned 3 today. So I thought I would post a quick pic of her. This is actually from Richard's bday last month.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JACQUELINE!
Aunt Christine Loves You!

Another quick check-in

2008-09-22T21:28:00.000-04:00

My new lanlord is trying to work out the wireless issues, so I am borrowing her computer for a couple of minutes.

One of my best friends, Ann, recently experience the death of her mother. This after her father's death only 10 months ago. Ann decided to start her own blog. You can read it here. Ann was traveling with me cross country, when her mother who has been ill for some time took a turn for the worse. Ann flew home from Pittsburgh so she could be with her mother before her death. I know this is a difficult time for her and her family. Please keep Ann and her family in your prayers.

I know just how hard this is. And, sadly, now 2 of my closest friends have had their mothers die in the last 3 months. I think if it wasn't for the crazyness of my lifestyle and the changes in scenery and getting re-started and re-settled, I would be having major remembering sadness at this point. I feel lots of sadness, but its mostly that people I love have to experience loss and pain.

Sigh. Keeping you both in my prayers, Ann and Melissa. I love you!

Quick Update

2008-09-21T20:40:00.000-04:00

Yes, I realize I have not blogged in a month. Its been a crazy time and I fully intend to catch you all up on all the happenings of the last month.

I'm in DC and have already started at my new job. Moving into my apartment this week. Spent the weekend with my brother and his family.

I'll try to update more once I get settled in my apartment!

Have a great week!

EARTHQUAKE

2008-08-17T02:18:00.000-04:00

ACK!!

About an hour ago I was working on packing up some of my scrapbooking stuff while I was waiting for the final Phelps swim and all of a sudden my whole apartment started shaking. It 'only' lasted about 15-20 seconds. And at first I thought a bus had hit my building or something, but that is a complete impossibility. We never lost power, it never even blinked. But it scared the hair off of me. I came online once I was sure it was over to see if it was an earthquake, and sure enough, I just lived through my first earthquake.

Here is what the USGS (US Geological Survey) reports. Magnitude 4.6, 9miles NNW of Trinidad, CA. or 27 miles N of Eureka. No damage has been reported so far.

My friend Nancy from work was just telling me today, "it's earthquake weather". I told her to shut her mouth. I only have about 2 weeks left in California and I did NOT plan on having an earthquake as part of my Eureka experience. I have half a mind to call her to complain about her 'prediction'.

Thankfully, the earthquake did not disturb my tv and I was able to see Phelps win gold #8, and see the fastest man in the world, 'lightening' Bolt. The olympics are a great distraction after that shaking.

Blessed by so many best friends and awesome family!

2008-08-16T00:18:00.000-04:00

I can't believe it's almost been a month since I last blogged. It's been a crazy 4 weeks since I headed home to NOLA. My trip home was wonderful. I spent several nights with my dad and he took me to several of his favorite NO restaurants: Stella!, K-Paul and Mr. B's. I had 3 great meals, gumbo twice, BBQ shrimp, soft shell crab, and delicious medallions of veal. MMMM love my NOLA food.

I had the special pleasure of having the Windsor Tea at the English Tea Room with one of my best friends, Dee. It was great tea, great food and a great friend!

I was also blessed to get to see my Nanny, Aunt Jerri, cousin Heather with son Jacob, and my godchild, Meridith with daughters Eva and Katherine. It was so great to get to see all of them. This is one of the reasons I like to go home for a whole week at a time, so I can get to see lots of family and friends too.

After my time in NOLA, I headed up to Natchez with one of my best friends, Ann, and we went to our favorite crop Scrap-n-on-the-river. 3 days of scrapbooking and getting to see so many friends we have made at crops. We had a blast! And I got lots of layouts done.

The weekend after I got home from NOLA, I headed to Sacramento to see my best friends from Fresno, Corky and Dakota and their son, Qory. I haven't seen them since November, 2005, almost 3 years, which is waayyyy toooo long not to see your best friends. We had a great visit, visited a couple of the local parks, rode down memory lane with Dakota who had lived in Sacramento almost 20yrs ago, and got to just hang out and talk and visit and give/get lots of hugs. It was an awesome visit. Thankfully, it will NOT be 3years 'til my next time to see them. I will be going to their wedding in August before I head back east!

This past weekend I flew coast to coast, and back, in 4 days, for Richard's 8th birthday on 080808!!! Pretty cool huh? I also got to visit with another of my best friends, Michelle, and her family for a couple of hours. Mostly, though we built legos and then built some more legos. The boys are growing and growing and *both* of them are missing a front top tooth! Jacqueline is bundle of energy whose vocabulary has just exploded. She's so incredible and funny. Richard has started writing his own books. About what else? Legos! His latest lego obsession: Bionicles! Richard read us the first 3 pages of his book, Gala's Party. Richard told me he wants to grow up to be an NFL player, then after he retires he is going to write books and produce/direct lego movies! Lucas wants to be a painter, as in a house painter/construction person, then after that he would like to be a deep sea diver (though he is concerned by Richard's warning about being eaten by the great white shark!).

This weekend I am working on starting the packing for my trip back cross country in 2 weeks. Next weekend? I get to see 2more of my best friends! Dave and Karen Massey are coming to visit me! Isn't that just so cool! I flew down to LA to see Karen when she was working in the LA area soon after I arrived in Eureka. Out of the blue, Karen got an assignment in Chico, which is only 4hrs from here. So I get to see her again, and get to see Dave too! I'm totally psyched!

I feel really blessed to get to see soooo many of my best friends in a 6week period. Plus, my cousin Melissa, who I also count as a best friend, and I have started planning a Disney trip for December. I'm really missing my best friend Kathy. I won't get to see her soon, but I'm hoping for her to come to visit me in DC later this year.

I should be packing, but just had so much to share. And the Olympics are awesome this year! Go USA!!!

Homeward Bound!

2008-07-18T10:33:00.000-04:00

I'll be heading home after work today. It's been much too long since I've been home. It's a marathon day for me with work, then 3 plane rides before I arrive in NOLA. I'm sure I'll be exhausted when I get there tomorrow morning. And I'm sure I'll be happy to be home again. I'm hoping to visit with family, eat delicious food, visit with friends, check out the parish for post-K progress, and do some scrapbooking up in Natchez for a couple of days. I know I'm in for a rude awakening temperature wise. We've had a week of 50s and 60s out here and 90s are the forcast for the entire week I'll be home. Getting my sweat glands ready! It's all good. I'm going home!!!

Grief-filled Anniversary

2008-07-03T01:32:00.000-04:00

My mother died 16 years ago today.

I struggle with this day every year.

Tonight I am just overwhelmed with grief.

Melissa's mom died tonight.

I'll write more later.

Please pray for our family, especially the Deroche/Weavers.

Welcome to the World, Cooper!

2008-06-27T01:03:00.001-04:00

Just a quick note to congratulate my best friend Ann on the birth of her 4th grandchild, her 2nd grandson, Cooper who arrived today at 9lbs! She texted me the cutest pictures! Mother and baby are both doing well. The 2 big sisters are excited and curious. CONGRATULATIONS Nana Ann!

California adventures!

2008-06-16T20:57:00.000-04:00

I was all excited to go adventuring this weekend. Last week was beautiful, sunny, cool days everyday, even warmed up to 70. But Saturday morning I woke up to fog and colder, damper temperatures. So I went to the scrapbook store here in town instead. It was nice, but not as cool as my favorite stores Scrappersaurus and ScrapbookBarn. There was lots of scrapbook stuff there thats for sure. But, for me its more than just the stuff. Its about the people. I'm spoiled by my friends at my favorite stores. They make scrapbooking more about community than about stuff (though they don't hesitate to sell me stuff, lol).

In the evening, the weather cleared nicely and I decided to go ride up the coast and watch the sunset. I got my sweats on because it was chilly and windy. Grabbed my camera and headed north. Right into the fog again! It was rolling back in just in time for sunset. I wasn't sure what I wanted to do. It's a challenge for me to go on these adventures by myself. This is really the first travel assignment I've had where I'm really out on my own. I have friends here in CA, and I will get to see each of them once, but for the most part I am on my own. So if I want to do something I have to do it by myself.

One of the hardest things for me to do by myself, is to eat out. I have friends that love eating out alone. My dad eats out alone several nights a week. But for all of these people, they frequent the same places, people know them, they can have conversations with the waitstaff, etc. But I'm new here. I've been researching places to go and I have a good list. But I really have to challenge myself to actually go sit in a restaurant by myself. People I know have suggested bringing a book. And thats fine I guess if I'm going to Dennys. But to go to a fine dining establishment and pull out a book, not something I feel ok about doing.

Saturday as I was headed into the fog, I decided to check out a place that was on the beach for dinner and sunset. I figured I'd rather be inside than in the fog. Plus I wanted to fine someplace with good food here. So I had dinner at the Moonstone Grill at Moonstone Beach. It was a medium sized place, with a nice crowd and awesome views of the beach and of the sunset. The menu was nice with several surf and turf selections. I had the Lobster Bisque which was tasty and I had a Florentine Sole rolled and stuffed with crabmeat which was very good. I passed on desert as there were no sugar free selections. It was a nice meal and I had a nice waitress. And I got to watch the sun drop down into the Pacific.

I spent Sunday cooking for this week. I made tuna salad, pork chops on my George Foreman Grill, chicken with balsamic goat cheese, and I have a meat loaf in the oven as I am typing. I also made Spinach and Artichoke dip for a vegee, its a great way to get spinach into my diet! I will heat up a can of green beans later in the week for another vegee. I also bring bell peppers and celery with salad dressing for vegees at work.

Tonight we are having a cookout here where I live. There are 4 of us, all travelers. The other 3 are nurses that work a few blocks from here. I'm the odd man out, an OT that works down in Fortuna. I was elected to bring watermelon, which was easy, and I was thankful to be elected to bring such an easy thing. Maybe next time I will make hamburgers or something if I have some more notice.

I know I need to upload some of my pictures here from my cross country trip and from my adventures so far here. One day I will, one day . . .

In closing I want to let my friend Dee know I am thinking about her and praying for her :)

Just for Fun!

2008-06-05T23:14:00.000-04:00

One of the blogs I read had this cool quiz posted today. I thought it was interesting and checked it out just for fun. I edited out the HTML and only posted a part of the results. I think it describes me pretty well! I know of several others and maybe I will check them out occasionally for you to try yourself! Have a great weekend!

Your results:
You are Superman

You are mild-mannered, good,
strong and you love to help others.

Click here to take the "Which Superhero am I?" quiz...

Holy @&%# Batman!! Gas is $4.59 a gallon!!!

2008-06-03T21:06:00.000-04:00

OMG! I almost wrecked my car driving home just now. I caught a glimpse of the price of gas out the corner of my eye and whipped my head around to check it because I was sure I was seeing things. $4.59 a gallon!!! It was $4.45 when I left for work this morning. That's a 14cents hike in 8 hours! I'm just floored.

Work today was good. I had a cute little lady ask me how to start her wheelchair. She said she always drove a Chevy and this was a Ford and she couldn't figure out how to get it started! I just wanted to hug her because she made me smile, although she was completely serious. So instead I showed her how to use her hands and feet to mobilize her w/c. I love my job. I absolutely love being an OT. It is truly my calling in life. And I'm so happy to be back doing what I am called to do everyday again.

I cooked all day on Saturday. I made 2 separate chicken dishes and a meatloaf and hamburgers as well as 2 vegetables. I've been packing my lunch this week and its going well. My new friend Margaret, from Jacksonville (by way of Poland) gave me this fabulous lunch bag that you put in the freezer at night and it freezes the sides then it really keeps food cold all day and even cools the water and tea I add in from the trunk of the car before I head out in the morning. I love my new lunch bag. Though, it does look like I have a suitcase with me every morning! LOL

I'm trying to start eating healthier again. Now that I eliminated sugar and carbonation from my diet, its time to get back to working on whittling down my weight. I'm going to be here, in CA, for 13 more weeks (minus 1 week back home in NOLA in July). My goal is to lose 25# before I leave. I'm already more active between climbing the stairs to get inside my apartment everyday and walking around the nursing home working with patients. Plus, I've gone back to exercising with my patients. I give them a 3# dowel, I use a 5 or 6# dowel. I give them red theraband, I use black theraband. I figure every little bit helps. I'd like to start doing some intentional exercise, but I haven't yet figured out what that will look like here.

My friend Dee really hurt her back and is going to daily PT trying to get it better. I admire her hard work and courage dealing with her pain. I am keeping her in my prayers.

I'm gonna go heat up some supper. Blog again soonly :)

Live In (Not) Sunny California!

2008-06-01T01:45:00.002-04:00

So I've been living in California for a week now. My first week of work is over. I've learned the 'shortcut' to work. Ann flew back home on Thursday, and I've been on my own since then. The people I'm working with are very nice. They are a pretty stable team and I'm covering for a maternity leave.

I'm not actually working in Eureka, I'm working in a little town 20 miles south, Fortuna, CA. Actually its 21.6miles door to door, about 32 minutes. And the price of gas here is $4.45 a gallon. Yes, you read that correctly: $4.45 per gallon. The cost of living here is unbelievable.

The weather here is interesting. Fog every morning, with lows in the 40s and highs in the 50s-60s. It's often overcast. But I have seen sun a couple of afternoons on the way home. Most days a light jacket is useful.

I'm still unpacking, a little at a time. I'm living in a 4-plex. The landlord is a feisty 80 year old. She rents exclusively to travelers, though usually to nurses. I've met one of my neighbors, they are all 3 nurses who work the night shift. We have a coin operated laundry (1 wash, 1 dry) in the garage type building in the yard and we all have covered parking. I live at the end of a nice quiet street in an older Eureka neighborhood.

I'm heading down to L. A. next weekend to see my friend Karen. She's been working as a traveler in the LA area and her assignment will be ending in 3 weeks. So I'm going down to visit her before she moves on to her next assignment.

I can't believe it's already June. This year is passing very fast. I'm hoping to really enjoy my 3 months here in CA. Hope you all have a great weekend!

We Made It!

2008-05-27T01:00:00.002-04:00

Ann & I made it cross country safely. I am blogging from my new place in Eureka, CA! It was quite an adventure and I hope to be able to share it with all of you soon. We drove over 3,000 miles, through 12 states. The weather varied from beautiful blue skies to rain, sleet, snow, hail and tornadoes! We visited the awesome Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, a restored pony express station, Buffalo Bill Cody's ranch and saw some of the most beautiful scenery in this country. We took over 600 pictures! I hope to be able to share them with you soon.

I start work tomorrow. I'm a little nervous as I usually am the night before. Excited Nervous. Ann & I went and scouted out the place I will be working as well as the route to get there. I'm always glad when the first day is done.

I hope you all had a nice Memorial Day.

Ready to hit the road!

2008-05-18T19:50:00.002-04:00

Well,almost . . .

I survived being a single aunt of 3 kids for 4 days. These kids are the best. I have so many new memories with them from this weekend. Richard offered to buy me lunch from his school and bring it home to me and when I refused, he made me cereal for breakfast instead! Lucas slept in my room 2 nights and Richard 1 night. Jacqueline is so full of new words and so determined to be grown up already. She has the sweetest smile with a head tilt and clasping of the hands when she asks for a treat at the end of a meal. Lucas still loves to do crafts and asked me several times a day when we could do crafts. We played Webkinz, both with the stuffed animals and online. We watched Madagascar, ScoobyDoo and Caillou. It was a great weekend. I'm exhausted!

I unpacked the backseat of my car and repacked it to make room for Ann's luggage. I unpacked the front seat to make room for Ann! LOL! I'm leaving some clothes that don't fit and my winter stuff, here in DC. My brother has a little section of his attic for my stuff. It's a growing section. The more I travel the more I realize I don't need as much as I always bring. And I've been working on consolidating each time I move.

I've done tons of research for this trip. But with all the mayhem taking care of the kids I haven't printed any of it out yet. I'm hoping tomorrow to print out a few things on the laptop downstairs. If not we will wing it!

The car is mostly packed and I will be picking up Ann from the airport tomorrow afternoon. I can't believe I am driving cross country starting tomorrow. Sometimes this traveling gig feels surreal to me. It's been a year and a half and I'm still loving it. I cant' wait to see what comes next. Who will I meet? What new friends will I walk away from this assignment with? What new memories will I add to my life?

Wish me luck and send me safe travel prayers! I will blog as I can to let you know of the grand adventure!

Many celebrations this weekend

2008-05-16T21:17:00.002-04:00

I'm back in DC, babysitting the kidlets. We are having a ball. My dad calls everyday to check on us, its hilarious actually, because we're just fine. Jacqueline misses mommy in the mornings but once she gets her day going shes done fine. The boys have been a huge help in keeping it all together here. I'm enjoying every minute of being with them that I can because I know it will be 3months before I'm back here for any length of time.

My brother's birthday was yesterday. Happy Birthday Du! The big 41! We had a birthday dinner of crabcakes and grilled steak and ice cream cake Wednesday night before they left. (And I passed on the cake!).

Rich and Barbara's 10 year Anniversary is today. 10 years, I can hardly believe it. 10 years ago this weekend so many members of our family treked up here for a great time with the Rich, Barbara and the Deily clan. Congratulations Rich and Barbara!

This weekend is graduation weekend at Fresno State. My best friend Dakota is graduating Magna Cum Laude! I'm soooo incredibly proud of her. I'm disappointed I'm not able to be there. But I have been thinking about her all day today and will be tomorrow too. Congratulations Dakota!

I worked on repacking my car some today. Lucas was a great help bringing things inside for me to work on to condense and figure out what is staying here in my brothers attic and what is heading cross country on Monday. I plan to spend bits and pieces of time working on the car so that it is ready by Monday and there is room for both Ann and her stuff. We'll see . . .

Packing!

2008-05-10T20:02:00.003-04:00

Can you believe it? It's time to leave Jacksonville already. I've been working on packing a little at a time after work the last week or so, and it has really paid off. I've already got the trunk about 90% packed. I'm taking a break as its still in the low 90s here (at 8pm!). The back seat is next. First, of course, I need to clear it off, lol. Then the luggage will go out. Once those big pieces are in the rest of the smaller boxes and bags will fill in the holes and spaces. I'm totally psyched that I'm moving along so well this early in the game. I don't plan to get on the road until Monday morning.

We had a nice, delayed Cinco de Mayo yesterday as my going away party. It was delicious and fun. I've made several friends here. The team at my facility was fun to work with, and I am going to miss them. I won't miss being the director of rehab, not at all, but I will miss the fun people.

My cross country trek begins a week from Monday. I still have a good bit of research to do for that trip. I've done the preliminary route, but I need to do more research on fun sights to see and things to do along the way. And of course to map out the accessible scrapbook stores along the way! If ya'll have any suggestions of fun things to do along Interstate 80 please let me know.

CONGRATULATIONS DAKOTA!

2008-04-28T19:36:00.002-04:00

I'm so excited to spread the news that my best friend Dakota was accepted into MSW school. She got her letter today!!! I soooo remember waiting for my letter from OT school. I'm so excited for her. It's taken her several years of city college and university, but she will be graduating in May!!! I, unfortunately won't be able to go as I will be babysitting the kiddies. But I will be there in spirit I assure you! I'm so excited! Just had to share!

Waayyy behind in blogging

2008-04-14T23:38:00.002-04:00

Seems like I'm always waaayyy behind in blogging. It gets overwhelming at times and I just don't blog because the thought of trying to catch up with everything that has happened is just too much. Then I remember that's not necessary in blogging. I can do it any way I want! My rules rule! LOL

This past weekend I went to visit one of my best friends, Kathy Abner. I hadn't seen her in a year and it was great to spend time with her. She cooked for me and that was great to have home cooked meals instead of microwave meals. And she was even very accommodating about my no sugar thing! (Which by the way I'm doing well with finally!). We played with scrapbook goodies and I showed her a few things I've learned and she shared some of her beautiful artwork with me.

Dothan, Alabama is bad luck for my car. Last year it was my window that wouldn't roll up just as storms were coming through, and this year it was a bit "shimmy" every time I made a right turn. I made it home safely and will be bringing my car in for a check up and probably a re-alignment, etc.

I have signed my contract for my next assignment already! Eureka, California here I come. Here's my favorite fact about Eureka, CA so far: Record High temp = 87!!! I'll be there June, July, and August! I'm totally psyched about the cool temperatures as well as the many places to visit and explore in CA. Also really excited about seeing my friends Dakota & Corky and their kids again (haven't seen them since I spent 3 weeks with them after Katrina, including Thanksgiving 2005 at Disneyland!) and getting to see Karen and Dave as well. (Karen is working in the greater Los Angeles area for the same people i will be working for!) Also very exciting is my drive cross country with one of my best friends. Ann will be driving with me out to Eureka and we are going to have a blast exploring together as we head out west!

This weekend is my final visit to Walt Disney World for this assignment. I'm making plans for a trip with Melissa in December, and of course I plan to be back in FL for the winter months next year, so more Mickey for me!

I need to get to bed but for anyone still checking my blog I wanted to do a brief update!

Struggling with the Sugar thing . . .

2008-03-17T20:07:00.002-04:00

I worked so hard to get off sugar, then we had people leave at work and I went to Disney for a weekend visit to Mickey and whammo I'm back on daily sugar intake. Sugar is like a drug for me. Once it's in my system it is *SUCH* a struggle to get off again. I finally said enough last Monday after almost 10 days eating sugary stuff. But it has been a daily struggle. I eat lunch at work with all the therapists. They have brought a huge tub (think old K&B tubs with a handle) of ice cream and cones and they eat it EVERYDAY!!! I don't even sit down at that end of the table and I make myself not even look, but it calls my name . . . "chhrriisss you know you want to eat me, i'm sooooo sweet and sugary". Blah. Then I go to my friends house where they have sugary cereals and other treats for the grandkids (and my friends :) and its the same thing. I go to an all day crop at the salvation army in Vero Beach. Fun crop! But about halfway through the morning I hear the tinkling of huge bags of M&M's being poured into a huge bowl. All day long people walk by me, stop and talk to me, and they are eating M&M's. Sooooo hard. Soooooooo tempting. But I haven't had sugar since last Sunday 3/9. At home its not an issue because I don't have anything sugary in the house so nothing calls my name. The grocery is hard but I go with a list and stick to it and stay out of the sugary aisles.

Work has gotten more stressful. They know me now and trust me, so there is more asking me to take care of problems, etc. Also, even though I've been there 5weeks, it turns out there are still things I am supposed to be doing that I am not doing. That is very stressful as well. The volume of patients coming and going is amazing. And of course there is the daily/weekly hassle of dealing with therapists who call out sick or call out because of sick children. Now, don't get me wrong. If you are sick, I totally think you should stay home and not bring your germs to visit me at work. But as the boss, its a huge hassle to deal with it over and over. And with such a huge staff (15), it happens alot.

Oh well. 8 more weeks. They've asked me to take the job full time. They've asked me to extend. They've asked me to take an OT job full time. They've asked me to extend as an OT. Which is all extremely flattering. But, alas, I am having waaayyyy too much fun doing this travel thing. And California calls (i hope!) If it all works out I may be driving cross country near the end of May! I'll keep you posted!

I'm going back to Disney this weekend. Yes it will be mobbed. But it will be fun to just people watch! Hopefully I will be able to post some cool Disney pics next week. Blog soon!

From K-ville to J-ville

2008-03-05T19:49:00.002-05:00

So I've settled into my new job and new apartment and finally am finding some semblance of a routine. The job is ok, though I'm not at all thrilled about being 'the boss' again. It's hard work with long hours, but I'm almost through my 4th week, with only 9 more to go. The people at work are interesting and some of them are fun to work with. Its nice that they keep asking me to stay on permanently. But they truly don;t understand that I'm not at all interested in being anywhere in Florida during hurricane season. They insist no hurricanes come to Jacksonville. But after my Katrina experience I'm so not interested in being anywhere near a hurricane state during the season.

Most days I work close to 9 hours then come home and veg out either on the computer, watching CSI or reading a book. My fun happens on the weekends. Either going down to Melbourne to go to a scrapbooking event/crop or going to Orlando to visit Mickey at Disney. Every Friday night I'm on the road as soon as i put out the garbage and gas up the car. The rides are easy and all interstate. I pretty much have every weekend blocked off with something fun to do through the last weekend I'm moving out.

Now that I'm settled and getting into a routine I'll be blogging more. See ya'll soon :)

Back to real life . . . finally!

2008-02-13T20:16:00.002-05:00

It's been forever since I blogged, I know. Recuperating and then being in limbo, with no routine or real life, made my mind begin to turn to jello. But I'm back to real life now. Living and working in Jacksonville, Florida.

I'm working as a Director of Rehab again in a Jacksonville nursing home with a very busy rehab department. We have over 15 staff members and over 50 rehab patients are seen daily. Many of them eventually go back home.

I found a nice apartment close to work thanks to Ann's lead foot! Long story short, Ann was speeding on the way up here and we found this place because we got here early and came upon it when we were scoping out the nursing home location.

I'm so thankful to Ann and Fred for taking me in, letting me recuperate and get my strength back. It was great to get to spend several weeks with one of my best friends. I got to scrapbook, make new scrapbooking friends and got hooked on Monk!

I'm incredibly thankful to be feeling better and be back to work. I hope to blog more often now that I will be getting back into the routine of real life.

'Til next time!

Thank You!

2008-01-18T11:26:00.000-05:00

I wanted to say thank you to everyone for all of your prayers, positive energy and good wishes. I am definitely feeling better and getting back to normal (whatever that is!). And I got a new travel position! So thanks to all of you for everything! I really do believe it has helped me during this time.

I'm still not truly feeling like myself, but I know that is partly do to this state of 'limbo' I've been in and partly part of healing that will come with time. It's been wonderful staying and visiting with my friend Ann. I am trying hard to not wear out my welcome here. My new position doesn't start until February 11, so my state of limbo will continue for a few more weeks.

So please keep those prayers, positive energies and good wishes coming! And thanks in advance!

On the mend . . .

2008-01-12T15:22:00.000-05:00

I'm on the mend. Feeling better and stronger everyday. Hard to believe its already been a week since my surgery. I'm still sore and moving slow at times, but today I am really getting glimpses of feeling more like myself.

I'm incredibly thankful to one of my best friends, Ann, and her husband Fred for taking me into their home to recuperate. I've spent the last week sleeping, moving from the bed to the recliner, staring at the tv and the computer, and taking short outings with Ann.

It's sunny and 83 degrees here today! The AC is definitely ON!

I want to say thanks to all of you who have called/written/commented on this blog. I'm doing great, but I still appreciate the prayers and positive energy to continue my healing. And to find a new position once I am healed. Yes, the spot I came here for has been filled in my absence. The good news is that 3 more opened up this week. So I'm feeling confident that there will be a place for me once I am released to work and feel 100% able to do my job well.

I'll try to blog again soon!

(-minus) one gall bladder

2008-01-05T17:28:00.000-05:00

I am posting this from the hospital's bedside media station. I came to Florida early to attend the memorial service for my friend Ann's father. Instead I had a severe gall bladder attack that did not resolve. I had my gall blader removed by laproscope about 6hrs ago. It all happened VERY quickly. I should be "home" at my friend Ann's house by Monday.

Even with the pain/discomfort of the surgery, I am feeling SOOOOOOOOO much better. It all hqppened sooo fast, I didn't have time or energy to contact everyone I wanted to. I will be in recovery mode for a week, so I will have time to talk and let you know how well I am doing.

If I have a chance, I will post more details from "home" at Ann's. Please pray for a speedy recovery with no complications for me.

I'm a great-godmother again!

2008-01-02T00:00:00.000-05:00

Yes, I was just here a few minutes ago! But shortly after I hit publish on my last blog entry, I got an email from my godchild, Meridith. She gave birth to her 2nd child, a 2nd daughter today. Here are the specifics:

Katherine Maye Mangiaracina
10:33 1/1/08
7lbs 8oz
20.5in

Big sister Eva is thrilled. And I'm sure so is Mamere! And of course, great-godmother Nana Teen is smiling from ear to ear.

What a special blessing to start this new year!

DONE

2008-01-01T22:27:00.000-05:00

I'm so done! :)

Done with working in Bethesda, MD as of Friday, 12/28/07. Done with living in DC as of 12/31/07. And done with my time here as of tonight 1/1/08.

I am leaving in the morning to begin my drive to Florida! I've taken a 13 week assignment in Brooksville, Fl. So I'm headed south tomorrow, for a 2 day drive. I'm spending the weekend in Orlando (No, not to visit Mickey!). I'm going to a memorial service on Saturday in Orlando. So I will stay there first, and drive to Brooksville on Sunday.

So please be thinking of me on the road for the next 2 days and pray for safe travels for me. I will blog again once I reach Florida!

Happy New Year Everyone!

ps. what are your new years revolutions for 2008?

Christmas Blessings

2007-12-25T05:27:00.000-05:00

I'm up in the wee hours of Christmas morning. I thought I would come post some thoughts while I wait for the chaos that is the merriment of Christmas morning in Great Falls, VA, to begin.

Today(yesterday, Monday, Christmas Eve) at work we were talking about our holiday traditions, both present, and from childhood. There were only a few of us working, but it was very interesting to me to hear how varied and diverse these holiday traditions are, and how much they change, and stay the same, over the years.

What I told my work friends was about my awesome memories of Christmas Eve at my Granny & Papa's house. My brother and I were the only grandchildren and only niece/nephew for 9 years (until Heather came along and ruined it all for us, i mean blessed us with her beautiful presence! hehe). I am the oldest of 13 grandchildren. And every year all/most of my mothers brothers and sisters (and later their wives/husbands and children) would gather at my Granny & Papa's house for Christmas Eve.

It was *magical* for me. I think I loved Christmas Eve as much or more than Christmas Day! *Everyone* was there (mostly). Some years we had a big dinner, which was painfully long for my brother and I (and our cousins when they started coming along over the years) because we couldn't start opening presents until the table was cleared and the dishes were cleaned. It took sooooooooo looooonnngg. I can remember running up and down the hallway of their shotgun double on Friscoville from the front room to the kitchen checking on the progress of the cleaning. Finally it was time to open the presents. Being the only granddaughter/grandson and only niece/nephew for 9 years was totally awesome. We were showered with gifts! One package after another! And when my cousins came into the world it was actually fun to share Christmas Eve with them because they were little babies and little kids and by then I was a teenager and the little ones really helped to keep the magic of Christmas alive in our celebrations.

After my Papa died in 1987(? now that's just wrong that I'm not completely sure of that date :( ), our Christmas Eve celebration moved to my Uncle Randy's house. This was done to take the pressure off my Granny, etc. And even though I was an adult, already a school teacher, the change did not sit well with me. After all, I had spent my entire life experiencing Christmas Eve one way, and this was a major change. But just like I got used to and learned to enjoy my first cousins sharing Christmas Eve with my family, I learned to enjoy our new version of the Celebration.

I only went to one (maybe 2 my memory is foggy for various reasons related to grief and depression) family Christmas Eve celebration after my mother died in 1992. I was still consumed with grief and had absolutely no desire to participate in a family ritual without her. The following year, 1993, my Granny was in the hospital over Christmas. I remember visiting her in the days before Christmas, I remember the beautiful knitted sweater overlay she bought me that year and how she smiled when I wore it to visit her. She died shortly after new years 1994 and I don't recall attending the annual Christmas Eve party again for a while. Perhaps to pop in and say hello. But without my mother and my granny it simply wasn't anything close to Christmas for me.

In the years following my mother and grandmother's deaths our family traditions continued to change. Her brothers and sisters families were growing, my cousins and I were adults and some of them were starting their own families. The last Christmas I spent with my mother's brothers and sisters gathered together was in 1998 in Ocean Springs, MS, and that wasn't held on Christmas Eve, it was on a Saturday a few weekends before Christmas when all/most of them could get together.

Today, each of the Odinet brothers and sisters have their own traditions that are growing and changing as their family grows and changes. Many of those traditions were changed again by Katrina in 2005.

For me, Christmas took on a whole new meaning in 2000 when my nephew Richard was born. I was absolutely shocked when my brother invited me to spend Christmas with them that year. And that has become my tradition! This marks the 8th year I have spent Christmas in the DC area at the Gauthier/Diely family Christmas celebration. It took a few years to convince Grandpa he needed to come for Christmas as well. Christmas eve is not a huge production like it was in my childhood. Tonight was a simple takeout dinner, Grandpa and I kept the kids for my brother and sister-in-law to go to a neighborhood party, we put out milk, cookies, carrots and cheese for Santa and his reindeer, and the kids were packed off to bed. Miraculously no one trotted down the stairs to check on Santa once they settled in (Richard usually needs water or something so he can see whats up down here!). Then Grandpa, Aunt Christine, Mommy and Daddy worked feverishly as Santa's elves to make everything perfect for Christmas morning.

I think it is going to be a wonderful Christmas morning. At 7, 5 and 2, the kids are at wonderful ages. They still live the magic of Christmas.

And so I sit here, in the wee small hours of the morning, reminiscing about old times, tearing up a few times, smiling a whole lot, and counting my blessings. I am here with my family of 2007, waiting for the pitter patter of little feet to come running down the stairs any minute now. I am miles and miles away from other family, but I am thinking of each of them, wondering what new traditions are starting and being continued for them. And I am thinking of my growing family of choice, my wonderful friends scattered about the country spending Christmas with their families and their traditions. I am truly blessed in 2007 to have so many wonderful people filling my life. I have a LONG list of people I want to talk to on Christmas Day. Too long, if that's even possible!
I hope each and every one of you is waking up this morning to your own Christmas blessing! And I would LOVE to hear about *your* Christmas traditions both old and new!

Here's a small bit of silliness at the end of my post.....I misspelled traditions every time I wrote it in this post as *tradtions* LOL. I'm sleep deprived!

Love y'all!

FREE FREE FREE Advice

2007-12-23T20:36:00.001-05:00

DON'T GET THE FLU!!!

I woke up feeling fine Monday morning, had a sore throat at noon, went home feeling awful at 2 and woke up barely able to swallow with chills and fever at 7. I spent the rest of the week in bed.

I'm quite disgusted by it because I've been working hard to take better care of myself and eat healthier, etc. Sigh. I know, I will still work on making the good healthy choices for myself.

My dad is in town for the holiday. We took the kids to Toys R Us where Grandpa let them pick out 2 things each. It was a riot! We had alot of fun and were totally worn out by the time we got home (the adults, not the kids!).

If you don't hear from me, or I don't answer my phone for the next couple of days, its because I'm still fighting laryngitis left over from my flu.

I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas that is filled with laughter and joy,peace, and love!

And here I was thinking I didnt have anything important or interesting to share!

2007-12-16T20:00:00.001-05:00

Well it's been a while since I blogged, and I was sitting here staring at my computer knowing I needed to blog and thinking....'but I don't really have anything to say right now'! Wrong! There's LOTS I want to share. /me shakes my head :)

OK, so, first off I want to apologize to 2 important people in my life for 'forgetting' their birthdays. I knew they were coming and had great intentions, but the stupid snow blew my mind and I completely forgot. So, Nanny and Karen, so sorry to have missed your big day!

Speaking of Karen, she ran the Honolulu Marathon last Sunday! Isn't that amazing! She turned Hawaii 3-0 on the 5th and finished her 2nd Marathon on the 9th! I have amazing friends. You can read about it at Karen's blog if you are interested.

This past Friday we had our department work Christmas/Hanukkah party with a lovely gathering at my boss' house for a potluck luncheon. Everyone in the department was there and we had a fun time. We picked names for Secret Santa's (or Secret Jew as my friend Jen named herself! lol). We ended up picking names 3 times because we couldn't seem to get the right number of people, and it turned out our boss forgot to put her name in the first 2 times! At the beginning of last week I had a funny idea but thought it was too silly and didn't share it with anyone at first. But I was tired one evening after a long day and some of us were being deliriously silly so I told a few of my work friends about it and they loved it, so we decided to do it with an important twist. My idea was for all of us to pretend we had my boss' name and when we started exchanging gifts to start arguing about who had her etc. My friend Andrea had an idea for an important twist to the joke, we would take things from her desk and 're gift' them to her! Well let me tell you, everyone thought it was a great idea and it was HILARIOUS! At first she said, "well I have a couple of extra gifts in the basement for whoever doesn't get a gift in the mix up. Then she thanked people genuinely for the 're-gifts' until someone commented "do these look at all familiar to you?" Then she realized it was all a joke. This was before she got to my re-gift....her nametag! We all had a good laugh and had fun doing the real gift exchange.

I had the new girl, our new tech who started about a month ago. I don't know much about her at all, but her list asked for Bath and Body Works so that was easy, and it said 'I am in love with butterflies', so I decided to make her a scrapbook project using a butterfly motif. I used very colorful papers and a 9inch accordion album. It came out really well. Of course I didn't finish it until after midnight Thursday night and forgot to take pictures. She really liked it alot, as did many of my coworkers. I got lots of compliments and even a couple of requests to have scrapbooking get togethers when I come back to DC next summer to work for a few months again! It was really cool!

Another important factoid about our holiday party: I didn't eat any sugar! Lots of sweets, even in my gift from my boss (which i politely left on her end table!) I decided Friday morning that if I started on sugar on Friday at the party I would have alot of trouble staying away from the sugar this weekend while I was staying with the kids overnight. So I made sure to eat the non-sugar items until I was full so I wasn't hungry when they started eating the very delicious looking desserts! I'm really proud of myself. Tonight makes 3 weeks since I've had sugar! And, I've lost another pound! 42# total! One more and I will have met my goal that I set at Thanksgiving to lose another 5 pounds before Christmas. I can do it!!

Do, and playing with I kept the kids overnight Saturday while my brother and sister in law went to a holiday party and stayed overnight in DC. We had alot of fun doing arts and crafts, playing XBOX, watching Scoobylegos. My dad will be here next weekend for Christmas and I think he is going to be amazed at how much all 3 have grown, but especially how much Jacqueline has changed and how much more verbal (and willful!) she is. I think it's going to be a fun Christmas for all 3 kids this year! And for Grandpa and Aunt Christine!

Today I continued to push the envelope and my own limits by having my first ever manicure and pedicure. Yes, you read that right, I allowed another human being to touch my feet! My friend Michelle was right there with me, talking me through it. It wasn't so bad, though I didn't really *like* it. It's something I will have to get used to, and I plan on just that, getting used to it! I didn't get any color on my finger nails because even thought I'm 42, I still pick at nail polish on my fingers (yes, I know, bad habit). But I did get a very light pink on my toe nails, Wiki Wachee Fawn, yes the names they come up with for nail polish! Here is the evidence that it really happened:
I'm going to go back to the spa with Michelle one more time before I leave. I know I'm going to have another facial because I really liked that, and I'm not sure what else.

9 more work days here in DC. I will be heading south on or about Jan 2. But I don't know my destination yet. Hopefully I will by the end of the week.

I hope everyone has a good, safe, and not to hectic week before Christmas!

SNOW DAY !!!

2007-12-06T19:46:00.000-05:00

Yes you read that right! My worst fears about living in DC came true yesterday. It snowed! An Alberta Clipper came through and we got snow all day long, from before 6am til after 9pm. It was crazy! The rooftops and trees were already covered in white when I got up to check the weather at 6am. I had talked to a coworker who lives in Virginia who had offered to come get me from my apartment on her way to work. Thankfully she was serious and she came to get me mid morning. By the time we left last night it was snowing like mad, big fat wet fluffy flakes. It was dark and hard to see with the snow coming down so fast. I really felt bad making her go out of her way to drop me off before she went home, but she didn't complain at all. This morning my boss called me to tell me not to drive because of the black ice out there. I was trying to wait to let the sun melt some of the snow off, but after she called me I called my friend and she came to get me again. The roads were still somewhat dangerous tonight because of the temperatures dropping into the 20s before I even left work, which caused the snow that had melted to refreeze and cause more black ice on the roadways. I'm not sure what tomorrow will bring. But I will catch a ride if it's not safe to drive.

Here are some pictures from my day:
This was the view out my apartment window Wednesday morning

This was from my ride to work through Rock Creek Park Wednesday

This was the view from my desk at work Wednesday noontime when I finally got in to work

This was the view of the back yard of the nursing home

This was my car when I got home Wednesday night

This was me after a long snow day

Sooooooo Much to share with you all!

2007-12-02T17:46:00.000-05:00

I don't even know where to start, there is so much I want to share.

Well, lets start with a picture of my new eyes and new eyebrows. I got some hip new eyeglasses and got my eyebrows waxed (gasp, yes I really did!). This is a picture I took on my cell phone of myself. . .

Hmmmm, what else? Oh here's some exciting news . . . as of today I've lost 41 pounds!!! Yes, you read that right, 41# since coming to DC! My goal is to lose 2 more pounds and maintain that through the Christmas holidays. I'm working hard to stay off the sugar, and let me tell you, the sugar is *everywhere* right now, but its totally worth it! Go me!

More great news: I got my Florida OT license! So I will be heading to sunny Florida for my next assignment. I'm hoping to be close to one of my best friends, Ann, in West Melbourne. I should get the list of the current traveler openings on Monday and we start working on a new job for me from there.

Even more exciting news: I've been asked to join the Design Team at my favorite scrapbook store, Scrappersaurus. What does this mean? Well, they send me goodies to play with and create with, then I send back what I've made to be displayed in the store and online to help customers get ideas of what to do with various items! Its quite an honor and I'm so excited. I've already gotten my first 2 boxes of goodies and I have been working hard on some really neat layouts and projects. I love it because its making me think out of the box as well as reinvigorating my love of scrapbooking, stamping and papercrafting.

It's brrrr cold up here in DC right now. The high today was 45 and there was/is freezing rain north and west of here. There is a 30% chance of snow showers one day later this week, yikes! Only 4 more weeks for me to avoid winter precipitation! Pray for no snow or ice before January 2008!

Ok, time to make some dinner. Stay warm, or for those of you sweating it out in the south, stay cool! And GEAUX TIGERS!!!

Giving Thanks

2007-11-22T21:18:00.000-05:00

Homesick.....finally.

I had a really nice Thanksgiving dinner tonight with my brother's family. Delicious meal and great company. A really nice dinner but I missed having Thanksgiving dinner with my dad. I talked to him today. But I am homesick tonight. It's really the first time since I've come here to DC to actually feel homesick. It's ok, its a good thing :)

I have to work tomorrow...yuck. While I am thankful to be able to work as a traveling OT and be working here in DC, I am NOT thankful to be working tomorrow! LOL

I am also thankful for the support and love of my family and friends. I hope everyone has had a good safe Thanksgiving!

Blog again soonly....

Struggling

2007-11-19T22:36:00.000-05:00

I'm struggling. I'm ok. Not good. Not bad. Sigh.

It's not any one big thing, its alot of little things. Am I homesick? Not much, maybe a little. Am I disappointed about Hawaii, a little, but not as much as you would think. Am I frustrated by my current work situation, yeah but not enough to put me in a funk. Am I affected by the grey weather outside today? Yeah a little, but its just a little thing. One of many little things. Am I stressed out waiting for my Florida license to come through? Yeah, but its just a waiting game. Am I missing Zeus? Yes I am and I'm starting the process to get another pet. Have I been worried about my health? yes, but I have a plan and its moving forward.

So, as you can see, there are lots of things on my mind. None of them huge or overwhelming on its own. Put the little things together, I'm feeling a little blue, a little down, and I'm struggling. Feeling lots of different things all at once. No fun at all. And I'm craving sugar to just make it go away. Doesn't help sugar seems to be everywhere I look lately. Lots of snacks at work, families giving us food filled with sugar. It seems to call out to me. Chris, Chris, you know you want to eat me, you know I will make you feel better. Lies in my head. They are 'just' feelings. They will pass. Sugar wont help anything. Only make it harder to make healthy choices in the days to come.

I called a couple of friends and left messages tonight, made a commitment to no more sugar, chatted online with another friend, journaled, sat with my feelings, looked at the lies in my head and saw how far from reality they are, despite how strong their message is inside, blogged here about it. I'm tired. I'm going to go lay down and try to get some rest.

Blustery Day

2007-11-16T21:57:00.000-05:00

Today was a blustery day in the metro DC area. I was driving up Connecticut Ave this morning on the way to work and the leaves of many colors were raining down upon my car as I drove and the wind swirled them all around. It was a beautiful magical experience. And a great way to start a Friday morning.

The leaves here are amazing. They are literally *everywhere* right now. Huge piles swept up at curbs and edges of properties. I used to rake leaves for my Maw Maw in her small yard on Lebeau Street. Magnolia leaves that fell and needed to be raked year round. These leaves are different. All shapes and sizes and the most beautiful colors imaginable. It's amazing to me and the locals say its a tame year for the colors. I sometimes drive through Rock Creek Park and through a couple of residential neighborhoods on my way to work. I can get mesmerized by the leaves swirling around. Not a good thing to happen while driving!

I had no idea how beautiful autumn could be until now. I remember as a teenager/ young adult, my mom used to say the only place you saw fall colors in New Orleans was a little patch of land right before the big green (now grey) bridge over the now infamous MRGO heading from St. Bernard to New Orleans East. If you looked hard left right at the foot of the bridge there were a few trees that actually changed colors and it was like a scene from a picture postcard. I doubt seriously its still there in this post Katrina world. It was beautiful, but completely incomparable to what I see on a daily basis here.

So I'm very thankful to here to experience fall for the first time. I originally extended here through the end of the year to leave my options open for the Hawaii possibility. That possibility no longer exists as that facility has hired OTs and will not be needed an OT traveler anytime soon. Maybe someday, but it won't happen for me soon.

I'm antsy to move on to my next adventure. I love the rehab team I'm working with right now and I'm making some really cool friends here. And I'm *loving* fall. But I know my next adventure is waiting out there for me with a new place to live, new friends to meet and hopefully old friends and family to visit. The holidays and heading toward us full steam ahead. I've got about 6weeks left here in DC. Where I go next is to be determined, but we will start looking seriously in 2 weeks.

Interesting week

2007-11-10T22:00:00.000-05:00

So the last week has been a full one. In particular the 3 days following my birthday were filled with lots of activity. I actually had a gall bladder attack my birthday night. Woke up in pain in the middle of the night. Not so painful to go to the emergency room, but enough to sit up for a few hours, uncomfortable and troubled. It was a "wakeup" call in more ways than one. Certainly it woke me up and rendered me tired and crabby the next day at work. But more importantly, it made me really take a look at my health and my eating habits, yet again.

I'm not used to being sick anymore. My family may remember when I was constantly sick with some sinus related issue or another. But those days are gone. And despite my weight, I've been blessed with relatively good health. Until the past few weeks. And, in the midst of the uti issies and now my gall bladder, my blood pressure was up and of course my cholesteral was too high. Sigh.

I've actually been doing well on the weighloss realm. I've lost a total of 32 pounds since arriving in DC, about 20 of those since I decided to really work on eating healthier. I stalled when I got sick and since then, but didnt gain, which is a good thing. But I'm just really worried about my health. I'm 42 years young, but my body feels 42 years old now and its not tolerating my weight very well anymore.

I spent the day after my birthday feeling dejected and defeated. I journaled alot while I was up most of the night with my gall bladder hurting. And I decided I needed to at least consider the option of weight loss surgery. This is something I really haven't considered an alternative for me. I feel like we (as in the the world) don't know enough about the long term issues that come from these surgeries that alter our interal systems so drastically. Also, I've been successful in the past in losing alot of weight, so I want to do it through healthy eating if I can.

By Saturday, I was feeling better physically, and emotionally as well. I realized that while I want to continue to eat heathier, I need to explore all the possibilities out there to help me get to a healthier body size. And I need to get back on track with my plans for healthy eating in the here and now as well as safe and healthy movement. No matter what I decide to do, I need to be able to make healthy food and movement choices. And, no matter what I decide to do it will entail a long term, permanent commitment to those healthy options and choices.

So, I've spent the last week trying to really redouble my efforts at making good choices about food, and trying to be more active just in everyday life. Such as actually doing the dowel exercises with my patients and parking a little further down so I walk just a few more steps each day. I don't get on the scale again until tomorrow morning, but I can see a difference in my uniforms, so I think it's been a good week.

Besides my health, my other disappointing moment was the news that Hawaii is not going to happen in terms of a travel OT assignment. Disappointing. But only in small ways. Now I can focus on other options. Including possibly spending 3 months in Florida near one of my best friends, Ann, and Mickey! Or somewhere on the Gulf Coast, or back in Louisiana. It will probably be after thanksgiving that I get to start looking in earnest for a new assignment location, which will be somewhat dependent on where my licensure comes through the fastest. Procrastination rules...NOT!

Saturday afternoon my brother and sister in law hosted a lovely dinner party for my birthday! Nana and PopPop Deily were there with Nana's famous birthday cake, and Barbara cooked me a great dinner. Rich took the boys shopping for me. They each picked out a different winter scarf for me. Lucas was giving me hints about what they got me earlier in the evening. His hint was: it goes all over you. Isn't that a good hint for a scarf?! I have a picture or 2 to share somewhere, I will try to post them soon!

My work week was long and got busier and longer each day. I've got several tough patients who take alot of physical and emotional energy right now. I worked late a couple of days. But I did make it to the eye doctor this week. I haven't had new glasses since 1996, and I haven't had an eye exam since before the storm. The Optometrist, Dr. Bruce Kellner, is the father of the SLP I work with, Jen. He was great! I had a thorough exam and he helped me pick out the most fabulous new frames for new glasses and sunglasses! I will post pictures with them as soon as I get some!

Time for bed! I hope all of you are having a great weekend!

It's My Birthday!

2007-11-01T22:27:00.000-04:00

Nice day at work, fun dinner with work friends. Phone calls from loving family and friends. My 42nd birthday has been a success. Thanks to all of you who emailed or called or thought of me today!

Happy Halloween!

2007-10-31T21:03:00.001-04:00

I got off work a little early today and jumped into the traffic to ride out to Virginia to see the kids get ready for trick or treating! Lucas was so excited he could hardly stand it. Jacqueline really had no idea what was going on and was overwhelmed at times. After a quick supper of cereal it was time to donn the costumes. First Darth Vadar (Lucas), then Storm Trooper (Richard) and finally Tigger (Jacqueline). I said I thought she should have been Princess Leia or at least Padme, just to keep it all in the Star Wars family! We took a couple of quick pictures then they headed out for trick or treating with neighbors and I headed home.

Tomorrow night a bunch of us are going out to dinner after work for my birthday, which I'm excited about. This weekend my brothers family is having a birthday party for me. Next weekend I am going for my first ever facial and manicure with my friend Michelle. It's nice to be here with family and new friends to celebrate my birthday.

I hope you all have a safe Halloween!

Happy Birthday Nana!

2007-10-25T21:51:00.000-04:00

On Saturday, 10/06/07, Nana aka Rosemary Deily (my brother's mother-in-law) celebrated her 80th birthday with her family and friends! It was a very cool shindig and a good time was had by all. Her daughter Terry Geck flew in from San Francisco (as a not so surprising surprise...ruined by her husband telling Nana Terry had her ticket!). And her grandson Kevin got a ride up to Great Falls, VA from Duke to go to Nana's party (a big surprise!). And one of Nana's college friends, Susie was there too. It was alot of fun and very interesting to listen to these two octogenarians sharing stories of going to parties, meeting their husbands, raising their children, etc.

Nana's family all put in together to buy her a huge portrait of the entire picture taken this summer at the beach. It was beautiful. And, apparently, in this age of the digital picture, the portrait was actually pieced together from several shots so that everyone's eyes were open and facing the right direction, etc.

I made Nana this box of greeting cards for her birthday. It was really nice when she called me to thank me again for them a few days later. She is such a sweet lady.

Other October Birthdays in my family include my kind and wonderful Aunt Rosemary, my Uncle Candy, my cousin Bert, my godchild Meridith's daughter Eva. Hmmm, I hope I'm not forgetting anyone else!

And 1 week from today, I will be 42!

Monday 10/1/07

2007-10-22T22:34:00.000-04:00

Back to work today and except for a brief period of fatigue in the afternoon, it was business as usual. My friends and my patients were glad to see me, and I felt the same way about seeing them. Glad to be feeling back to normal. Going for labwork in the morning to make sure everything has cleared up with the infection. I certainly feel like it has, finally.

So, the title of today's blog refers to the date 3 weeks ago today. That Monday was the first day that I realized I did in fact have a uti and that i needed to get some medical treatment for it. I called in late to work so I could wait to hear from my doctor and go pick up my prescription to start it before I went to work.

While I was waiting to hear from her, I went online to read the paper at Nola.com, which I do everyday to try to stay informed about happenings at home. The 'headline' of the online newspaper stated that Jefferson parish sheriff Harry Lee had been hospitalized over night and was in serious condition. Harry Lee had been fighting an aggressive leukemia. This news saddened me. Harry Lee is a local political legend/icon. When I lived in Metairie, La., I used to joke that I lived in Harry Lee Land. When I returned home after work I came online to check email and the newspaper again. As I was sitting down I wondered if I would find news of Harry Lee's death when I opened the online newspaper. And there it was, the headline "Jefferson Parish Sheriff Harry Lee Dies". This is one of many articles about Sheriff Lee if you are interested in reading about his life and political career. I actually read a good biography of Sheriff Lee: Wild about Harry: A Biography of Harry Lee by Deno Seder. You can still find a couple of copies over at Amazon.com, including one signed by the author that someone is trying to sell for $99 as a collectible!

Later Monday evening after I had eaten supper and was relaxing watching some tv, my dad called. He told me that a good friend of ours had died over the weekend, Sherry Nunez. Sherry and her family had been friends with my family for as long as I can remember and even before that. She had been ill recently. When I visited home in July I heard about it from my dad and from another of her relatives, Joan Nunez, an old neighbor of mine whom I visited while doing my Katrina sightseeing. Sherry and her husband Ronnie were die hard Saints fans, and therefore were there with me week after week for the torture we call New Orleans professional football. Our families had also vacationed together, and I taught her daughter Melissa back when I was a chemistry teacher. I know that her illness had been difficult on her family, and I know that her death has been even more difficult.

I realized when I started this post that it has only been 3 weeks since her death. I can remember vividly what the world was like for me 3 weeks after my mother died. I was still in a state of shock, walking around pretending everything was ok, trying to figure out how to make it ok. It is my firm belief that weather death is preceded by a short, long or no period of illness, it is still devastating and you are never prepared for it. So despite the fact that she had been ill, I know her family is still dealing with their feelings on a daily, and possibly even still hourly basis. The same goes for Sheriff Lee's family. Here and now 3 weeks later, they are still dealing with their feelings, and will be for a long time to come. I am keeping both of these families in my prayers.

I will try to post again soon. Til next time . . .

Going back to work tomorrow

2007-10-21T23:41:00.000-04:00

Well I'm finally starting to feel like myself. I am going back to work tomorrow. I am going to try to catch up on my blogging during the week even if its just a bit here and there.

I watched the kids today for a couple hours. We made some halloween decorations from construction paper, simple, handmade, fun! Lucas loves decorating :)

Blog soon I promise!

Sidelined...

2007-10-11T15:35:00.000-04:00

So yah, I haven't had a chance to blog anymore since I tried to start again on Sunday. My nuisance of a bladder infection has turned into a full fledged kidney infection. I'm home from work, resting, drinking lots of fluids and taking all my medicine like a good Chris should. The weather here has turned oh so fall like, highs in the mid 60s, lows in the 40s, and here I am stuck inside.

I'll be feeling back to normal soon enough. And I'll have alot to catch y'all up on once I'm up to it. Here's hoping the rest of you are starting to feel the pleasant effects of fall.

Long time no blog . . .

2007-10-07T18:39:00.000-04:00

Yes, I know, I've been a bad blogger. LOTS going on in life in all areas. So much I want to share. And I will. I've been a little under the weather and just really exhausted after work the last week. So since I'm not going to major blog catch-up all at once, here's a preview of some of the blog topics you will be seeing soon: death of a friend, death of a local political legend, visit to the national air and space museum stephen f udvar-hazy center, happy birthday nana, card project, in search of a pool. So yah, there's lots I want to share with all of you. Lots of pics to share as well. I hope to be back online later tonight to start working on that list of topics. Blog soon . . .

Happy Birthday Jacqueline!

2007-09-23T23:49:00.000-04:00

2 years ago tonight I was celebrating the birth of my first (and only) neice. And hunkering down preparing for the landfall of Hurricane Rita at my friend Mary's house. (Because my house was not in livable condition for several months after Katrina.) Jacqueline's birth was the biggest positive thing for me about 2005. For a long time after Katrina I was ready to throw out the whole year. And then I would remember my little neice and be reminded it wasn't all bad. In fact this day was fabulous.

Jacqueline's birthday is special to me for another reason, as well. One year ago I came to DC for Jacqueline's birthday, and while I was here I accepted a traveling position and gave my notice to leave my old job. A huge blowhorn for me!

My dad was here this weekend for Jacqueline's birthday. He took all the kids to Toys R Us. Jacqueline had a blast. I think she hugged every stuffed animal in her reach. She had a blast! She had fun opening presents, but is still not quite understanding the concept that there were more presents to open and wanted to play with each one as she opened it! Nana and PopPop (Barbara's parents) joined us for the party. Nana made her deliscious chocolate cake. (I only had one small piece.)

I hope you enjoy the pictures of Jacqueline from her birthday!

Happy Birthday Jacqueline!

Love,

Aunt Christine

PS...here is a link to my Scrapfest photo's at Shutterfly.

Scrapfest Fall 2007

2007-09-21T22:38:00.000-04:00

What a blast I had at Scrapfest last weekend! Sorry it's taken me all week to write again. Came back to DC to much cooler temps that wreaked havoc on my sinus'. But I'm back to normal now :)

So I went to Scrapfest with 2 of my best friends, Ann and Dee. Ann flew in from Melbourne, Florida to meet me. And Dee owns my favorite scrapbook store in the universe, Scrappersaurus! Dee actually sat and cropped with us for a few hours each day, while her gem of a husband, my friend Felix, and her awesome son Emery, ran their vendor booth. It was great fun to sit and visit with my friends while I was creating. I have truly found a creative outlet in scrapbooking. I never dreamed it was possible to feel as creatively free as I do when I am scrapbooking, stamping and paper crafting.

I've been working on layouts for my Disney book, from my trip to Disneyland for Thanksgiving 2005. I've got a good system worked out for my crops. I leave all my Disney stuff in my storage unit so that I only have to bring my tools and various odds and ends with me from DC. It has worked out well since I've moved to DC to work. I got several layouts done last weekend that I'm really proud of. Unfortunately they are still on my camera. I will try to download them this weekend and post a link to them.

Many of my friends and family don't really understand my obsession with scrapbooking. But for me, scrapbooking/stamping/papercrafting is the creative outlet I have looked for all my life. My mother was so incredibly creative and artistically talented. But I could not and still cannot draw, paint and create beauty in the ways that she could. I tried, but I just didn't get it...shading, shadows, depth...it just never came out in my attempts. For many years I was extremely perfectionistic about many things, including creativity. And so for a very long time I stifled any attempts at creativity that tried to surface, because, in my eyes, they weren't perfect so they were no good.

But in the last decade as I have worked on healing and growing, I have rediscovered my creativity. I have also become much less perfectionistic in this time as well, which has made sharing my creativity with others a pleasant experience. Scrapbooking, stamping and papercrafting have provided me with an outlet for years of stored up creative energy. I just love it. I'm good at it. And I'm not perfectionistic about it. In fact, one of the things I love about it is that mistakes and imperfections are what make pages and projects special, makes them look homemade.

I went to my first big crop in Natchez, Mississippi in July 2006 and I was hooked. 3 days of classes, time to work on your pages and projects and vendors galore for shopping. What more could a girl ask for? For those of you who aren't into scrapbooking, a crop is a gather of people who work on their scrapbook pages, cards, and paper projects in a common area. Local scrapbook stores often host small one evening/night crops on a weekly basis for their customers. Its the 21st century equivalent of the quilting circles. And like those quilting circles, there is as much socialization as their is work. I have met so many wonderful people through scrapbooking. In fact, one of the things I most look forward to when I go to a big weekend crop is the friends that I will see there.

Well, I've got a big weekend ahead, so I'm headed off to bed. Til next time . . .

Living La Vida NOLA

2007-09-13T00:50:00.000-04:00

Long time no blog. I've been living it up in the big easy this week. Visiting family and friends. Eating at all the good restaurants. Relaxing and reading alot. Most likely I won't be home again in NOLA for over 3 months, so I'm enjoying it while I can. I've also been on a dial-up internet connection from my dad's apartment which has limited my online time and speed for trying to blog.

I spent a couple of days with my Aunt Rosie this weekend (my friend Ree calls her my "kind and wonderful Aunt Rosemary"!). We had a relaxing time chatting and catching up with each other, making plans for possible future travels, and generally enjoying spending time together. I also got to see my Uncle Candy who is currently running for Senate District 1 in Louisiana.

My dad took me to 3 of the city's best places to eat. Saturday night we went to Stella! I had Heirloom Creole Tomatoes with Jumbo Lump Crab and Gulf Shrimp Remoulade, Local Cucumber Salad, Three Heirloom Tomato Gazpachos and Wild Mexican Tomatoes; Followed by “Iron Chef Chili Prawns” ~ New Orleans Style and Caramelized Wild Burgundy Escargots with Fresh Thyme, Local Garlic, Lemon Zest, Basil Pistou and Lavender Meringue. It was all totally delicious!

Monday Night we went to Mr. B's Bistro, where we split Crabmeat Au Gratin Baked in a rich béchamel sauce, garnished with panko crusted Louisiana crab claws as an appetizer and I had one of my New Orleans favorites MR. B'S BARBEQUED SHRIMP - A Mr. B's signature dish! Gulf shrimp barbequed New Orleans style, served in the shells with peppery butter sauce and French bread for dipping, complete with paper bib! It was messy and delicious!

Tuesday night we went to K-Paul's Louisiana Kitchen, where I had the trio of soups (turtle soup with sherry, chicken and andouille gumbo, and onion soup); followed by a wonderful soft shell crab dish with a tasty sauce and stuffed potato. Again, as usual, it was delicious.

My poor digestive system is on overload for sure and will be glad to get back to more normal and healthy eating patterns again. We only had desert one night, at Stella! where we had some concoction of Banana's Foster French Toast which we split. Other than that I successfully avoided the sugar temptations.

I've been reading The Company: A Novel of the CIA which I picked up at Olsson's bookstore at Reagan Airport heading out of DC Friday afternoon. I enjoy reading on the plane when I travel, and I often will pick up a book at the airport specifically for each trip. My last two were complete duds which I stopped reading before finishing, something I rarely do. But this is an interesting historical fiction type book. Its a big one and I'm over halfway through it. So I'll have lots left to read on the trip back to DC on Sunday.

The rest of this week I will be attending Scrapfest with one of my best friends, Ann. 3 days, 45 hours of scrapbooking, stamping and papercrafting. Oh, and lets not forget the all important shopping for scrapbooking, stamping and papercrafting supplies! I will try to post some pictures of my layouts and the Scrapfest crop.

Well, its late and I need to be ready to play with my scrapbooking toys by 9 so I'll say goodbye for now. Til next time . . .

Baby Steps . . .

2007-09-04T20:04:00.000-04:00

So getting back to real life can be a challenge. Choices are difficult to make in the hectic crazy schedule of everyday real life. I have tried to make healthy choices in everyday life. But its hard work. And there are *so* many choices to make. What to eat, how much to eat, when to eat, what to drink, how much to drink, when to drink, take vitamins, which ones, how many, the choices seem endless and are overwhelming to face on a daily basis.

So, if I'm going to have a chance at making healthy changes, I need to take baby steps. Last week I started taking my vitamins again. Have you ever walked down the vitamin aisle at the grocery or drug store? Hundreds of vitamins and supplements out there. How do you know what to take and when to take it? I have a regimen I have used over the years. It's a compilation of several years of suggestions and exploration. I take my vitamins at night, because i hate "vitamin burp" that i have for hours if i take them in the morning. I take a multivitamin, superB complex, C, and E. I also take glucosamine/chondroiten twice a day and have started taking flax seed oil capsules twice a day. Are there more I need or might benefit from? I don't know. But at least I'm taking them daily again.

This week I've started changing my drinking habits. Trying to get in those recommended 8 glasses of water a day. Cutting down on cold drinks to one a day. Cutting back on caffeine and cutting back on artificial sweetener.

I've been reading a couple of books about healthy eating/dieting. You on a Diet by Drs. Roizen and Oz, and The 3-Hour Diet and 8 Minutes in the Morning by Jorge Cruise. I'm also looking into finding an indoor pool either at a rec center or fitness place where I can start doing some walking in water and possibly aqua aerobics in the future. I've also been checking into yoga places for some gentle yoga classes.

So I've taking my first 2 baby steps. I'm trying to make good choices while i prepare for the next steps in my quest for a healthy lifestyle. If anyone has any ideas or suggestions I'd appreciate them. Til next time . . .

In Memorium Zeus Gauthier 1992 - 2007

2007-08-29T22:36:00.000-04:00

I doubt that you expected me to be writing a memorial to Zeus on Katrina Day. But there's a good reason behind it. Many of you may not know that I had Zeus put to sleep earlier this month.

He started having odd labs before I moved from New Orleans to DC. When I had him checked out it turned out he was in the early stages of renal failure. The treatment is a type of 'poor mans dialysis' where you give fluids under the skin and let the body process them to keep hydrated. There is no cure. So we started the treatments, staying at the vets office, when I was in New Orleans in July and he seemed to respond well according to the vet.

When I brought him back home his stopped eating and became very VERY clingy. Clingy was normal for Zeus for about 24hrs after I had been out of town for a few days. But this never stopped. He wanted to be in my lap, next to my head, being held, constantly in the days after I got home from my NOLA trip. And he still wouldn't eat no matter what I offered him, the special renal diet - no; his old soft food - no, tuna from the can (his favorite) - no.

After a few days of this I realized he was not tolerating this illness or its treatment very well. And I could not imagine having to stick my cat with a needle twice a week for the rest of his life (up to 2yrs at best). I talked to several of my friends with pets about my concerns. All of you were very supportive and helpful. I finally decided to have him put to sleep. I just did not want my final memories of him being sticking him with a needle and watching him get sicker and sicker.

So on August 4, 2007 I took Zeus to the vet to be euthanized. I was fortunate to have a new friend from work meet me at the vet to be with me through this ordeal. I hadn't even thought about having someone with me, but I am so thankful she offered because now I cant imagine going through that alone. I have to say the people at the vet were magnificent. The front desk ladies, the vet techs and the vet who we saw that day were amazingly compassionate. I had steeled myself against the possibility they would try to talk me out of it. But they didn't, in fact the vet told me she truly believed that pets tell their owners when its time.

I was able to hold him the whole time except during the 2 injections, the first a sedative and the second the euthanization injection. My friend, Michelle, had not met Zeus before this so while we waited for a room I was able to take him out of his carrier and hold him and tell her all about him. Every person at the desk came over to pet him and commented on how beautiful he was. Once in the room I became more emotional and just held him and told him how much I loved him and how thankful I was to have had him as my faithful companion over the last almost 14years as my life has changed significantly. The the vet came in and explained everything to me and when I told her i was sure this was what i wanted to do, she gave him the first injection.

By this point I was sobbing, holding him close, telling him again and again thank you for being with me during some difficult times in my life, thank you for coming with me on this new traveling adventure, i told him i was sorry for doing this but i just couldn't bear to have him suffer and i told him i loved him over and over.

It was by far the most honest I have been in grief ever in my life. When my mother died i was so completely overwhelmed and in many ways so emotionally shut down, stunted and immature that I was not able to express my true feelings for several years. But over the last few years, with alot of hard work, I have come to understand and acknowledge my feelings and begin to express them in healthy ways. And that is exactly what I did with Zeus. I was able to cry as much as I wanted to, I was able to tell him anything and everything I wanted to. I was able to honor the depth and breadth of my relationship with him. I was able to do this very hard thing and have no regrets. I held him as he died. It was peaceful. He was not anxious or in pain. And I was able to hold him for as long as I wanted/needed to afterward. Which was a long time but shorter than i would have imagined.

You may ask why am I sharing this today on the Katrina anniversary? Well. One of my patients asked me today about what it was like on this day 2 years ago. What happened when I got back to my house. And I remembered going back there. Seeing *every* tree on the treeline behind the house laying *on* the house. Having to crawl under those trees and branches blocking the carport and side entrance to get into the house. Walking into the hot humid house and finding water in the hallway kitchen den and bathrooms. Seeing the bulging ceiling in the back bathroom dripping water and obviously about to fall to the floor. Searching for Zeus. The only thing I took out of my house that day was Zeus. I found him under the bed in the spare bedroom. Normally he would have run from me if I tried to grab him from a hiding place. He never flinched and hardly moved even once I had pulled him out. He was hot, his nose was hot and dry. I grabbed his carrier, his litter box, a bag of litter and a bag of food and headed back to HMFranklinton.

So that's what has me thinking of him today. He was the only thing I was worried about 2 years ago tonight. And once I had him safe and sound in my office at the nursing home I was not worried about any of the 'things' in my house. And in the incredibly hard and scary days that followed August 29, 2005 as I worried about friends and family and struggled to find all of you and communicate during the aftermath, it comforted me to have him there with me, living in the therapy office.

I miss Zeus. Alot. I think of him everyday still. And i feel sad. His picture is still the wallpaper on my cellphone, and whenever my niece sees it she starts "meow, meow, meow, meow" and i smile thinking about him.

I have no plans to get another pet at this time. Partly because I want to let myself grieve Zeus' death. And partly because there are other opportunities for me as a traveling OT without a pet, that I did not have with a pet. For example, the possibility of taking an assignment working in Hawaii! (more about that later!)

And so tonight, as I grieve all the loss and changes in all of our lives, in our homes, our parish, our city, i continue to grieve for my beloved companion Zeus.

I want to thank my new friend Michelle for truly being there with me on that very hard day. And I want to thank the fabulous staff of Benson Animal Hospital for thier kindness and compassion for both me and Zeus.

I love you my boy, you truly were the king of the gods. Thank you for loving me. I will remember you always.

Post K + 2

2007-08-29T00:35:00.000-04:00

Sigh.

Hard to believe its 2 years since 'The Thing' (to quote Chris Rose). But it IS really hard to believe its been 2 years. 2 years ago tonight I was hunkering down at HMFranklinton, helping them to get ready for Katrina. I was bunked on the floor of the therapy office, with my laptop and my radio. I was still in that pre-K delusional state where I told myself, "we are 100 miles inland from where the storm will make landfall, it will weaken significantly by the time it reaches Franklinton". Boy was I wrong. Sigh.

I'm pretty wound up tonight. No big surprise there. Last year I was wound up for days, even weeks, before the anniversary. I told a friend tonight that I guess I can live with a couple days of anxiety. NOT being in NOLA or even LA is making a HUGE difference I think. Also, not working in the place I survived the storm makes a HUGE difference too. Of course my fabulous trip to Hawaii last week has to be helping as well.

When I was home in NOLA in July, I went riding around to see what had changed and what had stayed the same. It was a completely depressing ride. I took a few pics with my cell phone camera. You can see them here if you are interested. They are from the lower 9th ward, Arabi, and Chalmette; many of them places very familiar to me when I was growing up, such as my old church, the bowling alley, the park, neighborhoods and streets, as well as our old house and my grandmothers house I lived in when I was a teacher. I know its not all bad, there are some good changes happening, but it is still visually overwhelming for me, and I wont be going back 'Katrina sightseeing' again for a while.

I do have to say though, that in my travels, here in the DC area, anytime I tell someone I am from New Orleans, their face changes and they ask how things are, if they are getting back to normal, and what will it take to get things back to normal. I found this when I was in Hawaii too. So the world has not forgotten about us completely, though they do not understand why things are still so difficult for so many (of course many of us probably wonder the same thing).

Last Friday night (8/24/07), I was flipping through the channels and came across a special on the weather channel marking the 15th anniversary of Andrew in south Florida. I kept on flipping, but wondered what things will be like for us and for NOLA and the gulf coast in 15years.

I will spend the day at work, at my little nursing home north of DC. It will be a positive distraction for me, as well as a reminder of the huge changes I have been making in my life. I will be thinking of my family and friends that will also be living through this K+2 day. And I will say a prayer for all of us and our hometowns as we/they struggle on this road to recovery.

Back to real life . . .

2007-08-26T23:37:00.000-04:00

Well almost, since my real life now involves traveling to fabulous places, visiting family and friends and working at a different job every 3-6-9 months. :)

I'm back 'home' in DC, and I spent the day getting ready to go back to work and back to real life. My apartment is a wreck (no big surprise there!) and my fridge was empty when I got back last night. So I made groceries and started picking up around here. Cooked a couple of easy things so I have lunch the next couple of days, put new sheets on the bed, etc.

It's here in the everyday life that I hope to make new changes. But it's also here in everyday life that changes are the hardest. Old habits are hard to break. I know I need to start small.

My friends Dave and Karen love me very much. They took a huge risk when I was vacationing with them last week. They talked to me about my weight. It's been my experience that you have to love someone a whole lot, enough to risk hurting their feelings and possibly losing your relationship with them in order to bring up such a touchy subject. It made me cry to know that they cared that much about me.

I know many, most, probably all of you in my life worry about my weight and my health. So do I. And that is a blow horn right there. I spent years not really caring about it at all. But now that I've regained all the weight I lost in 2000-2001, I find myself uncomfortable in my body. It is a new feeling to me. I know that may be hard to believe, but it's the truth. I've often joked that I am a reverse-anorexic, I look in the mirror and I see a 'normal' sized person. And for years I didn't even notice my body was so big. But believe me I notice now.

My life has changed so much. I am open to new opportunities in my life. But there are just so many things I can't do that I want to do. I've never really noticed it before, I guess because I was so closed in by the walls I had put up to protect me from the world. But as the walls come down, I see things I want to do, and right now I just cant do them. I feel sad, angry and frustrated. And I think, I hope, I know I'm ready to do something about it.

I didn't start this blog as a weight-loss journal. I *did* start it to communicate with and get support from my family and friends as I make changes and take advantages of opportunities. In 2000 when I started making changes in my lifestyle and diet, I did it secretly for a very long time. I was pretty sure it wouldn't work, and even when it started to, I was very sure it wouldn't last. My life is significantly different now and I want to take advantage of that difference. I am more connected to the world in general and to my friends and family specifically. I don't want to try to make hard changes in my lifestyle without asking for and getting the support I need from all of you.

So, if you have any suggestions, ideas or thoughts you would be willing to share with me I'd appreciate it. I have the comments set to be moderated (by me) so that I don't end up with a ton of spam clogging up the blog.

It's getting late, til next time. . .

P.S. I'll post a link with pictures from my fabulous Hawaii trip soon!

Welcome to my blog!

2007-08-24T15:09:00.000-04:00

Aloha!

I'm writing this blog from Waikiki, Hawaii! Flying back to the mainland early afternoon, but already all packed up. I've been staring out the lanai doors of my friends Karen and Dave's apartment at a view of the beach and Diamond head. Life is rough I tell you. :)

The idea for doing a blog was first inspired by my friend Dee at Scrappersaurus, who started her own blog here. On my first full day here in Hawaii, I encountered the *blow horn* and it became an additional inspiration to start my own blog.

I've made many big changes in my life in the last year. Leaving my job of almost 7 years in Franklinton, beginning to work as a traveling OT, and leaving Louisiana to take a travel position in the DC area. Big huge changes for someone who never imagined living outside of the New Orleans area, and who planned to retire from my job in Franklinton. Talk about your hard right hand turns!

As my life continues to change and I am more open to the opportunities that are available to me, I see more big changes I want to make. However I am, and will be, far from home, family and friends. So I invite you my friends and family to follow my journey both in my travels and in my changing world. Please leave comments as your support is important to me.

Mahalo (thank you) for reading. Until next time. . .