Drive By Blogging

I have a lot to do and not a lot of motivation to do it all. Bleh. Hence, the lazy way out with drive by blogging or "bullets". Hmm, how very "gangsta" of me. (Rolls eyes, shakes head, realize I am a dorkarella.)

- I have two oncology patients who are not doing well. It sucks and it never gets easier as a clinician to help a person and family prepare for the end. Never, never, never. To do it well, that is, to promote a peaceful goodbye is a privilege.

- Still waiting to download the beautiful pictures we took at Yosemite including the Wawona and Ahwahnee Hotels, Bridalveil, Yosemite, and Royal Arches Waterfalls, a black bear, Mirror Lake, and one mighty fine looking family.

- Not only do I hate laundry, laundry hates me. Ditto housework. Enough said.

- Off to see Bruce Springsteen tonight at the Sports Arena in Los Angeles. Cause Baby, I was Born To Run!!!

What are you up to this fine Wednesday?

P.S.- Please enter my 200th post giveaway of See's Chocolates and Organic Body Lotion right here and Thank you!

Awards and a 200th Post Giveaway

Happy Monday and it's time to take care of some bloggy business and spread the love with Awards and a 200th post giveaway.

First, ta-da! An Award from Dearest Granny Annie that I very much appreciate though I am tres tardy in posting it. Thank you so much, Annie!


The Friends Award is self explanatory and the rule is to pay it forward to 8 blog friends! (Gee, only 8?)

So in no particular order and with much appreciation for the gift of your virtual friendship-

Weebles Webblog
Raggedy Anne
Momma Val
Mrs.Spit
The Rambler
Wicked StepMom
Barbara
Antibloggedy
Kimbosue
Soralis
Are You Kidding Me?
Kandi
Ashley
Cara
Sara the Gas Passer
Heather at Joys in My Life

Holy Cow, I better stop now, I nominated 16 blog buddies. So much for following the rules.

Now onto to the Prize Portion of today's post!! It's time for my One Year Blogaversary/200th Post Giveaway! The prize is 1 lb. of See's Chocolates in your choice of milk or dark chocolate and Desert Essence's Organic Lavender Body Lotion.





So please leave a comment to enter, that's all there is to it. A winner will be chosen by Random.org. Please leave your comment to enter by April 20th, 12 midnight Pacific Time. I will ship this Prize Anywhere in the world, as long as you have an address and it's legal for you to get some super delicious chocolate and body lotion.

Thank you so much and I wish you Great Luck and all the Best,

Martha

Yosemite Incredible

Our family had an incredible trip to Yosemite National Park in the Western Sierra Nevada mountains last week. It snowed over two feet while we there, we saw and hiked to many beautiful waterfalls, hiked to Mirror Lake, saw lots of wildlife including deer, Stellars Jays, and a Black BEAR!!! It is awe inspiring to stand and gaze upon the steep granite walls of El Capitan, Sentinel Rock, and Half Dome. The towering trees including Redwoods, Black Oak, and Incense Cedar are humbling. It is truly a sacred place that touches your spirit, heart, and soul. Mere words are insufficient to describe the confluence of natural beauty and bounty of Yosemite. I will post pictures after I buy additional hard drive for the computer. I hope you get to visit there and see for yourself. I can't wait to go back and explore some more. Certain places stay with you, sustain you with their sheer beauty, this is one for me.

Yosemite Here We Come!

I am looking forward to going to Yosemite, California for a few days this week with the family. However, I hate packing!!! Packing is such a misnomer, that's only one piece of the puzzle. It's all the prep work I dislike, figuring out the clothes, the laundry, stopping the newspaper, cleaning the litter box, watering the plants, pay bills, ACCCCKKK!! Plus, I have to supervise packing of the two boys stuff, but thankfully they are very self sufficient and getting more so all the time. But still, it's times like these I wish I had a personal assistant or I could wiggle my nose like my favorite TV witch and be done with it!

Enough of the crab session, I am excited to go to Yosemite for the first time and experience the waterfalls and wildflowers of Spring there. We are staying in a condo right in Yosemite National Park. We also have lunch planned at the Ahwahnee Hotel. It will be great to get away.

I wish you all a wonderful week and Start of Spring!

Perfect Moment Monday- A Friend Indeed

This perfect moment was brought to me courtesy of my 14 y/o son. He has a friend who has severe Crohn's disease. This autoimmune disease causes digestive problems and a lot of pain and is frequently treated with steroids. My son's friend has been on steroids for quite awhile to try and control his symptoms. This young man has developed a "moon face" as the result of the steroids which cause his formally thin face to become round and puffy. This is tough to cope with at any age but even more so during puberty.

My son told me that his friend was getting many cruel questions and stares from his classmates about his altered appearance.
D., our son piped right up,(I wonder where he gets that from?), and straightened these kids right out by saying, "It's from the medicine he's on, get over it."

His demonstration of compassion and loyalty to his friend in this simple statement touched my heart.

For more perfect Moments, please visit my friend, Lori at Weebles Webblog.
Thank you for sharing in this moment with me.

If I wasn't a_________, I'd be a ______________

With all the economic uncertainty, I am glad I chose the Nursing profession thirty years ago, or more aptly, It Chose Me. I don't take anything for granted and so sometimes I wonder what about the other career paths not taken. (My apology to Robert Frost.)

Maybe a heavy equipment operator because I like the idea of moving large quantities of dirt around.

Or maybe a makeup artist for TV and movies because I have a talent and eye for it and work well under pressure.

Hmm, or maybe an interior designer because I am a good listener and understand the dynamics of living spaces.

How about you? What other vocations or avocations pique your interest and why?

P.S. A teacher of grammar would Never, Ever appear on my list. (Sorry, Mrs.Spit)
P.S.S. My husband aspires to be a Shrimp Herder who coaxes shrimp into the nets of fishing boats with the bubbles of his boat's wake.

Calling People Out All Over Town

I have been calling people out all over town this last week.

First, I sent a letter to a community magazine regarding their use of the outdated term, "Male Nurse". (Blogged about in my post, "1909 or 2009?") I got a nice reply from the author of the article and she apologized and said her intent was never to offend those in the Nursing Profession. I was happy to welcome her into the 21st century.

Yesterday, I was stopped at a red light and watched while a school maintenance truck driver ran a red light and then proceeded to tailgate and weave his way through traffic. The school district has all their trucks numbered and I called their office and notified a supervisor of my observations. I don't like getting someone in trouble or Gasp, even worse, be a tattle tale, but C'mon buddy, your Truck number is emblazoned in Big, Bold letters for all the World to see, how could I not follow up?

Have you had to call anybody out lately?

Thank you, Martha