Monday, March 31, 2008

Another Inspirational Story



Carrots, Eggs & Coffee


A carrot, an egg, and a cup of coffee...You will never look at a cup of coffee the same way again.

A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up, She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose.

Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil. In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil; without saying a word.

In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked, ' Tell me what you see.'

'Carrots, eggs, and coffee,' she replied.

Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard boiled egg.

Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked, 'What does it mean, mother?'

Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity: boiling water. Each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.

'Which are you?' she asked her daughter. 'When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

Think of this: Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength?

Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart?

Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you. When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest do you elevate yourself to another level? How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

May you have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human and enough hope to make you happy.

The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way. The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past; you can't go forward in life until you let go of your past failures and heartaches.

When you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling.

Live your life so at the end, you're the one who is smiling and everyone around you is crying.

April Showers, early



         Snow on Easter, Rain today.  Always keeps you guessing.

     Well the first 4 nights are done.  Thank goodness.  I did have a great group of patients and they were fun to get to know and help recover.  Makes for a good night.  I have been doing the stairs everynight during my break.  8 flights up and down.  Working on my bike legs.  I tell ya the ole heart is getting some major pumping action going on.

        Yesterday my husband brought the papers to my BIL for him to sign agreeing to the sale of the house.  As feared he refused to sign them.  Blamed it on a typo.  Just delaying.  I said, well... I guess I will tell Dan to go ahead and buy the other house.  But, but,  he sputtered.....  I just walked away. Sick of his games.  Today Rick gets to call the lawyer and tell him the news.  I can just hear his reaction.  He is going to be furious.  The Sheriff is suppose to bring the eviction papers over today or tomorrow.  Should be interesting.

     I have to see the eye doctor today and get my eyes dilated to finish the exam.  Otherwise I plan on being very lazy and watching a movie.  To rainy to do anything else.  Soon we will have spring flowers.




Friday, March 28, 2008

The art of putting off the unpleasant.

     My BIL isn't the only one who puts off things he knows will be unpleasant.   I have found myself doing that the last couple of weeks also.

    Zoey is due for her shots.  Now I have mentioned I am concerned about my baby dog.  Her lumps are increasing in leaps and bounds and she is just dumpy some days.  Occasionally she isn't eating that great.   Some days she acts like a puppy and we go for great walks and play in the snow and other days she seems to have trouble getting on my bed.  And in her armpit on her hind legs is a large lump.  Not round like the cysts, but firm and ropey.   A scary lump.  Plus a smaller one on the other side.

    I have felt lumps like that before on cancer patients in their groins or armpits when the cancer has gotten into their lymph system.  Which is what I am so afraid has happened to the old girl.


     Now if I don't take her in for her shots I can pretend most days that nothing what-so-ever is wrong with her.  I can put off the facts and spoil her rotten.  But if it is what I think it is that won't go on indefinitely.  Eventually the reality of it will become more and more apparent.  And there is the possibility I am dead wrong.  Which would be just simply the best news. 

      So I put it off a week......and another week.......and another.


Good information



       I received the below information in an email so chances are some of you have also as these things tend to travel.  Anyway with gas what it is I thought I would share.

TIPS ON PUMPING GAS (Good information)

I don't know what you guys are paying for gasoline.... but here in California

we are also paying higher, up to $3.50 per gallon. But my line of work is

in petroleum for about 31 years now, so here are some tricks to get more of

your money's worth for every gallon..



Here at the Kinder Morgan Pipeline where I work in San Jose , CA we deliver

about 4 million gallons in a 24-hour period thru the pipeline. One day is

diesel the next day is jet fuel, and gasoline, regular and premium grades.

We have  34-storage tanks here with a total capacity of 16,800,000 gallons.



Only buyor fill up your car or truck in the early morning when the ground

temperature is still cold. Remember that all service stations have their

storage tanks buried below ground. The colder the ground the more dense the

gasoline, when it gets warmer gasoline expands, so buying in the afternoon

or in the evening....your gallon is not exactly a gallon. In the petroleum

business, the specific gravity and the temperature of the gasoline, diesel

and jet fuel, ethanol and other petroleum products plays an important role.

A 1-degree rise in temperature is a big deal for this business. But the

service stations do not have temperature compensation at the pumps.


When you're filling up do not squeeze the trigger of the nozzle to a fast

mode. If you look you will see that the trigger has three (3) stages: low,

middle, and high. In slow mode you should be pumping on low speed, thereby

minimizing the vapors that are created while you are pumping. All hoses at

the pump have a vapor return. If you are pumping on the fast rate, some of

the liquid that goes to your tank becomes vapor. Those vapors are being

sucked up and back into the underground storage tank so you're getting less

worth for your money.

One of the most important tips is to fill up when your gas tank is HALF

FULL or HALF EMPTY. The reason for this is, the more gas you have in your

tank the less air occupying its empty space. Gasoline evaporates faster

than you can imagine. Gasoline storage tanks have an internal floating

roof. This roof serves as zero clearance between the gas and the

atmosphere, so it minimizes the evaporation. Unlike service stations, here

where I work, every truck that we load is temperature compensated so that

every gallon is actually the exact amount.
Another reminder, if there is a gasoline truck pumping into the storage

tanks when you stop to buy gas, DO NOT fill up--most likely the gasoline is

being stirred up as the gas is being delivered, and you might pick up some

of the dirt that normally settles on the bottom.


Hope this will help you get the most value for your money.
DO SHARE THESE TIPS WITH OTHERS!



Thursday, March 27, 2008

Snow



       The above marble is the same one shot from different tops.  Completely different looking from both ends, so cool.

    Woke up this morning to snow.  At least an inch.  Bummer.   Yes it is already melting but I still don't want to see it.  Darn stuff....go away.

    Spent all day cleaning.  Found this great site about not cluttering.  After my MIL's I vowed to go through my house and throw throw throw.  Her house was always neat because she had a large house with lots of closets.  But she had them filled with things I bet she hadn't looked at in decades.  My house is much smaller.  I have only lived here 3 years and it is cluttered.  My closets are full.  My basement is full.  My car sits out in the weather while junk sits in the garage.  Some were because of the work I did.  On line selling, you have boxes, bubble wrap, wrapping paper, peanuts.  Never throw a box because it might someday be the perfect size.  Not to mention all the stuff you sell.  Its was in the house, and the garage, and the basement.  NO MORE.   I can get rid of it all.  Most will be sold at the auction.  What doesn't sell, Goodwill.  I am selling all my reference books also.  They take up a huge amount of room and most all of the information I can get on line these days.  So anyway.  I cleaned.

    We heard from the lawyer.  Snag time.  Seems BIL has to sign a paper agreeing to the sale at the price we agreed on.  We though since Rick was executor as long as it was a fair price he could sell it for what he wanted without BIL's final approval.     Thing is if BIL refuses to sign and wants more money, I told my son to just look for a different house.  Not to offer him him one more dime.  If he says he will sign if my son lets him stay there, walk away.  No bartering.  It is this price or no price.  And either way he is getting evicted by the lawyer, only thing is...if he hampers the sale in any way things will get very nasty for him.  The lawyer is then going to sue him.  So we wait and see.  I wish we would know for sure soon.  If he isn't getting this house everything will be sold at auction.  If he is staying, some of it stays.  I wish I knew which way it would go.

    Well, work tonight.  Hope things have settled down.  Just found out I missed a meeting.  With so much on my mind these days I forget things if I don't write them down.  And I forgot to write this down thinking I would remember.  I didn't.   Hope it doesn't cause any problems.  My boss is easy going but I have been bad about the meeting all year.

   Well.  Time to go make supper.   Another entry in As My World Turns. LOL.

          

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

The Hutch

  I went to my MIL's today and got the hutch.  I got rid of my desk which I did really like but wasn't practical and replaced it with her hutch which hold more of my pretty things.  Someone asked me where I keep my marbles.....well some of them will be here now.



      It fits perfect in the kitchen where my desk was.  I can keep some of my kitchen items in there.  The bad thing is now where do I keep the things I kept in my desk like stationary, stamps, labels, pens, stapler, tape, paper clips, ink, blah blah blah.   maybe I should get rid of all those things.   Some of the plates were my MIL's, some were some I collected,  the beautiful orange pitcher Rick gave me for my birthday a few years back, my new chickens, my wonderful dog statue.  Things I like.  So what do you think?  Perfect for my house.

    I asked BIL if he had found a place to live yet and suggested the Y.  Can single people stay there anymore?  I did tell him they won't sell the house with him in it.  That ticked him off but I would hate for him to be out of loop and wantto keep a dialog going with him.  Thats my BIL speak by the way.   Lets dialog, in the loop, irons on the fire, all means delay delay delay, Spoken by someone who has had lots of therapies in the past. LOL.  Anyway, got lots done today.  Work tomorrow.  Fun fun.

    I made Zoey some peanut butter biscuits the other day.  Really easy and lots cheaper then store bought.  Take care all.



Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Yuppers, more marbles.

  I just happened to get some neat new marbles.  Can't help it, there are so many out there and they aren't really that expensive in the world of collecting, right, right!  Anyway here they are.

  I like the Davis's marbles.  They have such vibrate colors and the marbles are solid.  This is from 2006, yes it signed and called Fireman.  It is about 1 1/2 "



  Lampworks makes these cute marbles with frogs and lizards on top.  This is the bullfrog.  So cute.

  And the lizard.  Also very cute and these are well made.

  View from the top.  So, what do you think, pretty, cute, waste of money.  They don't take up much room, less then the teapots I used to collect and are so pretty.  I like them.  Plus....they may go up in money. who knows.

    I also found a great site. Smart Money  I worry about money....don't we all.  I want to save.  After Medicare is going broke.  So check this site out.  I have my son reading it.  From making your own laundry soap to saving for retirement and paying your mortgage off early this has tons of great advice.

Monday, March 24, 2008

Monday

  
      I hope everyone had a wonderful day yesterday.  We did.  Quiet and peaceful.  I made a ham dinner and we just lazed around and enjoyed the day.  We had snow for Easter but it was gone by the afternoon.  Soon that will end.  I noticed the irises and lilies are coming up.  The smell of spring.  A wonderful smell.

   It is cool here.  Too cool and windy for bike riding.  Thats OK.  We have some shopping to do anyway.  My Brita pitcher broke so I need a new one.  I am tired of the house so want to get out and about.  I also still need to bring the hutch home.  The auctioneer should be calling any day to get the things lined up.

    I talked to our lawyer today.  He is going to be serving my BIL with eviction papers this week.  He says the sale can't go through until my BIL is out of the house.  I wish it didn't have to come to this.  He also mentioned suing my BIL.  I guess for hampering the closing of the estate.  That would come out of my BIL's half so I hope he wakes up and moves on down the road.

    I have my cabin reserved.  So excited.  It looks like it might be very peaceful.   I will be very ready to relax and just enjoy nature and my hubby.



   Well, Rick is done with his nap.  Time to get moving.  Things to do and places to go.  Have a great day all.  I noticed the female eagle is laying on her eggs now.  I was starting to wonder as I missed when I would check.  She is getting down to business also.


   

Sunday, March 23, 2008

Saturday, March 22, 2008

Good Morning



        I can't believe it is Saturday already. Time just flies on my days off.  Actually works goes by rapidly also.  Zoom and its over.



         Yesterday I got my new glasses so I have been having some fun adjusting to them.  They are smaller and heavier then my others and since my eyes had gotten worse I had to get used to them. I am falling off curves and steps and I see the frame the entire time. I still can't decide if I like them.  I think I will get a 2nd pair and use my old frames.  They are so light. 



    We also went to my son's new home to drop off some things for sale in the auction.  I am trying to get used to calling it his home.  Weird.  Weird times.   We talked to his new roommate the other day, he is excited also.  Both of these guys were living with their folks and hating it.  But with rent these days it is so hard to get out unless you want to live in a dump.  His parents liked having him there as we did with Dan so it worked out.  But they both want a place they can bring girlfriends to.  I can understand that.  I did tell them both they are both adults, not some kids fresh out of college and I hoped they weren't going to decorate like a flop house but like a home.  He has lots of plans for fixing the place up and is excited.  He said he will have a large nude of him in place of our cow picture.  I laughed and told him to just nicely drape it when we were there please.  Dan and him have known each other since childhood and have been roommates before.  It should work out well.



    One child moves out and another may come home.  My oldest son and his wife are getting a divorce.   It breaks my heart.  He loved his family but couldn't get out from under his father in laws dominating ways.  I will always believe hs FIL destroyed their marriage with his lies and interference.  Couldn't let his little girl go and grow up. And she chose her Dad over her husband.  Finally all the lies and broken promises got to be more then he could take.



       Anyway, enough of that.  Changes changes.  Life if about changes.  Some good, some not so good.  You have to roll with the punches.  I just wish we weren't getting punched so often lately.  My flabs of steel are taking a work out.



     Went to the house yesterday and was happy to see BIL is actually moving stuff out.  He doesn't know the house is sold yet.  I think Rick should tell him but am glad he is moving.  Finally.  Oh, and Dan is keeping my MIL's cat.  Ebony gets to stay where she is used to also.



     So thats today.  I might work tonight for the holiday pay.  I missed a day because of this stupid back.  It is cold and cloudy here so probably won't ride the bike.  Hope everyone has a wonderful Easter tomorrow.




Thursday, March 20, 2008

Vacation rental

   We have decided on our vacation rental.  It is less then the one we were going to stay at because we have used this company before.  I haven't stayed in this place though.  It looks wonderful and is called Renegade.  Check it out.  I also got my new bike shoes in the mail.  They are cool.  Now I wish I could order my bikers body in the mail and just put it on but I will have to work on that.  So I plan on doing some riding this weekend.   I really have to finish at my MIL's and get all my things over there but should have time for fun.

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

The Eagle has Laid

  

Just when I had just about given up hope the mother eagle laid another egg.   Lets hope nothing happens this time because this is it for this year.  I am excited.

   Hurt my back yesterday slip sliding on mud so missed work last night so I could try to get it back in shape.  I will probably try to work Easter to make up for it.



     Rick is out visiting the lawyer letting him know whats going on.  Our big battle is still getting my BIL out of the house.  When he finds out my son has bought it he will be even harder to move so we will let the lawyer go ahead with the eviction proceedings.  It makes me mad he is forcing my husband to do this.  Why doesn't he just move.  It is creating so much stress.  Soon he will have enough money that won't be an excuse, but I bet he still won't leave.  Sigh.


    Anyway.  The sun is shining outside and looks great.  Yesterday my neighbors chickens got loose and they sat in my yard and crowed.  Makes me miss my chickens.

          Well, about the pictures today.  They are not mine first of all.   They were sent to me.  This little baby deer was watched over by the horses until its mother came to claim it.  It looks so tiny by those horses feet but they were very careful not to step on their tiny visitor.  Isn't it sweet!


                     

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Sold

                  

          Well, as long as they approve the loan and they see no reason why they won't, my son just bought the house.  Am I nervous.....Yes.  Am I happy.....Yes.     His first home.  How exciting.

Making a Marble

 this is a great example of how they make the beautiful marbles I collect and I why I call them small works of art.  Because they are!


Monday, March 17, 2008

Just because I like it and can't sleep.

No dieting tonight

What a lovely evening we had.  The best way to enjoy an evening like this is not to think about the calories.  When you find yourself at the gates to heaven and talking to St. Peters he is not going to ask you if you stayed on your calorie restriction.  He is going to ask you if you had a good run.  If you lived your life to its fullest.  Nights like this you can look back on and say....Oh Yah.  It was a good night and I have no idea how many calories I consumed.

    Started out at Sweet Fannies.  The Widmers beer was freshly tapped and so good.  It went perfect with the corn beef and cabbage with pototoes.  Irish music was playing overhead and we visited with friends and had a good time.  I finished off the evening with a wonderful Beamish Irish Stout.

        When we returned home we had a romantic ending with a bottle of Raspberry Lambic
  The taste was clean and refreshing and went perfect with the Brie I warmed and Gloucester Stilton Cheese on Wafer Biscuits.   Yummy.  I love cheese and crackers on a relaxing evening with the man I love.  So much nicer then work.  We watched a movie and munched happily ending a great day off.

    Did I get any housework done.....well duh....No.  Do I care?  Double no.

         Now I am ready for bed.  Fat and sassy and relaxed.  Tomorrow I work again for 2 nights but I feel like I got my soul settled down again.  Don't know why I will feel tomorrow as that is alot to drink for me but it was worth it.  I am off to work tomorrow



   Ta all ye lads and lassies.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

       
 
         Instead of green Iowa is celebrating with a fresh layer of snow this evening.  Can we say bummer.  I can.  Anyway Happy St' Patrick's Day J-land.  Cheers to you.   Now if you know me you know I like a good beer once in a while but I can honestly say I have never had a green beer.  I have no plans to break that tradition.  However.....I am going out for an Irish meal and a nice Widmers.



           This was the busiest weekend I have spend at work in years.  It was emotionally and physically exhausting.  In fact....I just woke up!  Usually on my night off I sleep until about 1 and that way I can go back to bed later.  Well I woke up and checked out the clock, 4:15.  And I ache all over like I have been hit by a truck.  What a week.


       I had such wonderful patients though and had the rare pleasure of taking care of the same group all 4 nights.  One patient told me, In this nightmare I am living right now you are my only bright spot.  Isn't that sweet!  Made me want to cry.  I am glad I made this difficult time a little easier for him.



        Well, I have to get ready to go.  Another exciting entry aye.  Have a wee bit of fun today you all.

 
       

Sunday, March 16, 2008

Sunday all ready!



            I just am having a hard time believing it.  The last 4 days have gone by in record speed.  I was absolutely shocked to find out it was Sunday already.

          We have been unbelievably busy at work.  I asked, what happened, did someone mention the millionth patient gets a million dollars or something?  Top that off on Saturday night the computers were down all night while they updated.  We went back to paper charting which wasn't bad, but then in the morning 40 minutes before I would have escaped we had to put it back in.  Overtime city.  I have so many hours of overtime this check I could take a mini vacation.

           Last night was not good.  Normally I work with a great group of nurses but we have a couple who don't pull their weight.  Not team players.  On a busy night you really feel the lack of teamwork.  Our charge nurse is wonderful though.  I always know she has my back which does help.  One more night.  Tomorrow I will simply crash and burn.

      We are down to the deadline at getting everything organized at my MIL's.  I am bringing my stock over there a little at a time and BIL is very very slowly moving out.  The lawyer took it upon himself to start eviction proceedings against him so that did speed things up some.  I dream't about him today, not really the man of my dreams if you get my drift.  We saw each other at a party and he said, B---H, and I waved back with my middle finger...so even in my dreams we aren't getting alone, LOL.

      Another thing..... turns out my son is still going to buy the house.  He is going to put $20,000.00 down which will really reduce his payment.  I should be jumping with joy.  I am just so afraid he is buying the house for all the wrong reasons.  I told him this should in no way be an emotional purchase.  If he was buying it for sentimental reasons he shouldn't.  For that money there are any number of houses right now which would suit him as well if not better that are already remodeled.

        With all the talk about recession and high gas, no meat in the future, a asteroid hitting earth, mad cow disease, blah blah blah blah I am just worried sick.  Am I worried because I am his mother and don't want him hurt or because I really am worried about the future.


          I have always told my sons to weight their options pro and cons before decisions but not to let worry about the future stop them from advancing or living their lifes to the fullest.   Now I want to yell all the concerns and worries in my sons face thus doing what I instructed them not to do.  The stress pictures are moving like crazy today I tell you.

        Tomorrow I am thinking about getting together with some friends to relax after the week we have had.

  We are all feeling stressed.  Maybe a Irish celebrations.  We are going to talk about it tonight.  I will probably end up going out with Rick though.  We had talked about the Irish meal at Sweet Fannies and maybe a perfect green rose,  We shall see.

     Well, Rick is wanting my help.  Time to get off and ready for work also.  Bye all.