Project #273

Thursday night's project.

Om.

Coolest shower curtain ever.

Seriously! I heart this. Never has a WalMart curtain (intended for the living room for someone not so creative and crafty) and a Pier1 bamboo curtain looked so good. Now, the question is, what do you think of the tan and green towels with it? I wish the walls weren't white... but hey, they don't have to be!
I swear, I feel like I'm not going to ever get to bed on time again. Ever. I thought I was going to get to bed at 9:30 tonight. Went to hang the shower curtain and realized I had left the curtain rod I bought at Wally World tonight at Wally World. So, at 9:10 I got in the car and went and picked it up. I had to get that curtain up tonight. It was my only goal. Well, that and getting to bed on time, but we can't all be perfect.

Thanks to all who updated my address and phone number yesterday. Yes, CEO, that is the right number. Glad quality control took the time out to check on me. If you didn't get the email, let me know and I'll send it along... that is, if I know you and you actually had my last phone number. This isn't a free-for-all, you know.

What I've been up to...

Lord knows I haven't been sleeping a lot! After the marathon shopping weekend with the madre, I've been unpacking, arranging, and rearranging. The coffee table I bought looks just a bit tall as a coffee table, but it looks great against the wall. I think there's something just waiting to fill the space on that wall... and once there's some paint up there, it's going to be great! Bear with me while I suffer through my sleep-deprived decorating spree!

Oh, and the best line of the weekend:

As Mom and I repack the truck to accommodate the 6 chairs I bought for the dining room (in addition to an already full space) I decide that the only way to get the chairs home is to strap two of them on the top of Tough Lucy Dodge. After an hour of what looks like a parking lot tent sale, I'm trying to figure out the best way to tie the chairs to the cross bars...

Tiff: Hey Mom, this way, or this way?

Mom (clearly exasperated with me and my big ideas): I don't know honey, I haven't strapped anything to the top of a car in 20-plus years!

Tiff: Well then, welcome back to the trailer park, Ma, welcome back.

This just in...

I'm not dead! I've spent the weekend getting "stuff"... and boy did I do a good job!

SuperMom leaves this morning. New curtains are made, stuff is assembled, stuff is left to do. If I've got it together by the weekend, I'll be lucky.

Full report later. Now it's time to take a break~ I'm going to work!

150mg of Benadryl =
no more Bassett Hound look for Pooh King =
no more scratching =
TK and Pooh King sleep.

Sigh.

Update

According to Dr. Tom, a dog can have 2-4mg of Benadryl per kilogram. 2.2 pounds per kg = Pooh King can have 75-150mg of Benadryl every 4-6 hours... which is 3-6 adult Benadryl pills.

Pooh King is feeling much better now, and so am I.

We'll sleep well tonight, and tomorrow? Well, tomorrow The Old One arrives!

Glade pet-odor removing carpet powder =
Pooh King with welts all over his body and ears that are as fat as fluffy pancakes =
Pooh King shaking his head and scratching all night =
TK gets no sleep =
TK vaccuming (AGAIN) at 7am=
TK at Wally World and home during lunch hour to give dog Benadryl.

Oz seems blissfully unaffected.

Aye carumba!

True story

The rehab department, as it exists today, is piecemeal to say the least. In a giant U-shape (that was the original ER) our exam rooms, treatment rooms, and "gyms" are divided up into rooms as small as 5x8. It can be quite a challenge to find a piece of equipment, none the less a coworker or patient. Moving targets are hard to hit!

Today, I brought a Lean Cuisine type lunch. Aaaah, the never-ending battle with the bulge. Anyway, I walked from the fridge ( near my office) to the kitchen (about 150ft away, near the front desk, which is down the hall, around a corner, and through two doors) to heat it up. 4 1/2 minutes later, I was in business... the lunch business!!! That little plastic container was H-O-T so I set it on my clipboard for the walk back. I'm walking down the long hallway when it starts to slide to the right, so I attempt to slide it back to the center. In a classic case of over-correction, I slid it right off the clipboard. I swear, it dropped straight to the floor, and the chicken and spinach combo shoots straight up through the "vent slits" that I had cut per the directions. (Unfortunately, the directions did not say to NOT try to balance the hot meal on a clipboard.) Anyway, I wound up with creamy spinach up my legs and on my shirt. It splattered all over the floor and wall, appearing as though someone had projectile vomitted in the hallway.

As if all of this wasn't bad enough, I was standing there shaking my head in disbelief, knowing this could only happen to me, when I look up and there stands Mini-Me. "Oh no you didn't!!!!"

Oh yes I did.

So, for the rest of the day I looked like I had been peed on. You would think that creamy spinach would be green. In truth, it's a funky yellow color, and it shows great on gray pants. I pretty much sat there with my pee pants on for the entire afternoon.

I promptly went to the cafeteria and got cheese fries.

Diet food is dangerous.

Nebraska made me jaded.

Tonight, towns just east of Farmville are getting pounded by severe thunderstorms. The lightning is flashing so fast that it looks like God borrowed the strobe light from a 1975 disco party. (They just posted a news clip saying there were 1407 lightning strikes in the past 10 minutes in the Richmond area.) They're anticipating hail. I have serious appreciation for 60 mile an hour winds (which are also called for), but honestly, I sat there and thought, "Meh, I've seen worse."

Me, the girl who sat in the bathtub sucking her thumb.

Hard, I tell you. I'm a cold, hard woman now. If they don't say the word "tornado" I'm just not impressed.

How is unpacking nearly as difficult as packing? Perhaps it's because I don't have somewhere to put everything... no bookshelf for the books, no coffee table on which to put the candle or the cool bamboo plant. I now have a dining table, but no chair to sit on. There's nowhere for me to put my cup of coffee or tea while I'm sitting in my wonderful chair. No sofa table, and no lamp to put on it. Stuff. Yes, that's exactly what I need. For the first time ever, I need more STUFF!!!

SuperMombo to the rescue. My little Mombo will arrive on Friday evening, porch table, bedding, guest television, lamp and creativity in hand. We will kidnap my SuperBossLady on Saturday and go find all the greatest haunts in Richmond to continue my quest for the perfect furnishings. I can't wait to be able to rid myself of the last few boxes... the rest I've done quite well with! I haven't yet decided on paint colors, what kind of dresser to get or what do do with the bathroom decor, but I think that will likely be figured out by Monday morning when Mombo leaves.

The only thing I have left to unpack is a box in the bathroom (barring those books that need shelving) and then I'm quite finished. Can you believe it? Everything is going just swimmingly here. I've had my first ride on Jimbo the Fat Boy, dinner with friends, a lovely road trip, and more trips to WalMart than I'd like to admit. I couldn't be more tickled.

Everything is the same, only it's different...

I got to town at 12:31am on Monday morning and laid up at the local Super 8 until the apartment complex opened at 9. The Super 8 has charged me 4 times for that room. Yikes... I meet with the manager today after work to make sure it's taken care of.

At 8:30am on Tuesday, my Bosslady called to tell me there was a patient who the doctor wouldn't sign out of the hospital, and asked if I might be able to come in for a bit to see her. I went in at 10:00. I have worked 6-7 hours per day since. Not to worry, I'm getting paid more than my "normal" employee rate since I'm technically not hired yet, and I don't have benefits. I say that's nothing but good for me! (It's funny mostly because I had offered to be "hired" on Thursday the 16th, but the hospital insisted that I would need a week to get settled.) I only missed one day of work during the relocation from NE to VA.

Anyway, I was very much thrown right into the fire so far as work goes. Not a problem really, except that the department relocated from a satellite site to an on-campus hospital site while I was gone. This has changed a lot of the procedures that I was used to so far as how I find out there are new inpatient evaluations to do, where to file/find paperwork, etc. Yesterday, despite the secretary's insistance that I only had one evaluation to do, I found out there is a cabinet with a file that sits about a foot and a half above my head. In that file is the paperwork for patients that I don't know about. 7 of them. 7 of them that noone told me about.

After my mini-melt down, I went home and laid on my couch. I didn't unpack a single thing last night. I just needed chill time.

Maybe I should have had a week off before taking on new problems in an old place.

Mission accomplished!!!

Chair and couch: Check
Television: Check
Mattress: You're gonna' have to trust me on that one!

It's here! It's here! Thank you 6 pound 7 ounce tiny baby Jesus! The guys from Greenfront Furniture (where I hunted like a pro and found some great deals!) called yesterday to see if they could deliver my furniture a few days early, since they would need to deliver some things out of town on Friday and couldn't get to my order in the same day. Is it wrong to jump up and down, cheer, and maybe pee your pants a little when they do things like that? Don't you judge me. I would have given them beer, but decided I shouldn't since they had to drive a big truck with someone else's furniture away afterward. They did get a free Coke and Sprite for huffing that stuff up the stairs! I also bought a television... it's true, Nebraska is the flat screen state! I figure with sweet furniture like this, my stock is going up as a weekend destination attraction! I got to sleep on my new mattress last night. Sigh. It was heavenly. I swear that thing is made of the feathers from angels' wings. (It was pointed out to me yesterday that sleeping on the souls of children was yucky, so I've re-vamped my description.) I've relocated the couch and chair about 5 times and can't decide how I like it best. Pooh and Oz just like that it's not empty and it feels like we're staying put for a while!

Since I'm working this week, the packing is going a little less quickly. Plus, I went to the Alison Krauss and Union Station concert last night. (It was awesome, by the way.) Since I've spent all my liquid cash it should be easy to spend the weekend "in". Mom is coming next weekend, and I've scheduled a kidnapping of Katie for a day haunting the coolest places in Richmond and the surrounding areas to find things like lamps, a coffee table, and well, who knows what else we can find! The weirdest thing about unpacking so far is throwing away the boxes! Whoo hoo!

Okay, must start getting ready for work. I've unpacked 90% of the kitchen, so I got my yummy coffee and scrambled eggs this morning. I'm lovin' it!!!!

I'm not taking a shower. Seriously. I'm at the hotel, but I'm not taking a shower. I'm about to haul 7 thousand pounds of stuff (or at least it will feel like it) up a flight of stairs. I think I'll shower after that!

What I am doing is going to the newly opened Starbucks in downtown Farmville. I see some more of the tasty, tasty bean (which was nowhere to be found in western NE) and a blueberry muffin, or maybe a scone, coming my way!

Yes, I think the next shower I have will be in my own apartment. WHOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOO!

And sheeeeeeeeeeeeee's SAFE!

• songs on the iPod: 462
• radio stations: 4
• calls to friends: 2
• calls from friends: 2
• calls to parents to keep them updated on progress: 7 (give or take)
• siblings spoken to: 2
• shabby hotels: 2 (but at least this one has internet access... even if you have to wake up the desk guy to get the password!)
• hours of sleep: only about 6 so far (but more are on their way in short order!)
• miles traveled in Tough Lucy: 1644
• hours traveled in Touch Lucy: 29 (with breaks to feed and walk the 4-leggers and 2-legger)
• number of days traveled: 2
• number of illegal u-turns: 3 (Come on, we all know it's not really a good trip if I don't turn around at least twice!)
• Starbucks stops: 1 (at the very first Starbucks sign I saw! I think I might have had a seizure trying to get there. It was the best.coffee.ever.)
• McDonalds stops: Don't you judge me.

I rolled into FarmVegas at 12:31 am eastern standard time. I sign my lease at 9am, after Starbucks stop #2.

Home sweet home!!!

And trust me...

If I can't find this...
Somebody's going to wind up seeing this!

King of the Road

And just like that, it's over.

The apartment is empty. The U-Haul is full. The dog and cat are afraid I'm going to forget them. In about 8 hours (give or take) I'll be headed east.

The last day of work was pretty good. Lots of smiles and thanks. My patients were sweet as ever, and my favorite almost cried, which made me almost cry. But I didn't. For the first time, there is no doubt where I'm supposed to be.

The dog, the cat, the fabulous shoes... and a few stow-away monkeys. We're going to Farmville, baby!!!!

Pooh King had to guard all of his favorite toys from his cousin, Teva. She one upped him by stealing the bone after distracting him by barking at the door. Silly old dog.
Then he tried his darndest to convince Auntie he was too weak from not eating any scrambled eggs to even hold his head up. She felt very sorry for him, but refused to share.

Well, of course we stopped for pie!!! And it was goooooooooood.We busted a Supa-Star! at Mt. Rushmore. (Check me out with the modified "Peace Supa-Star" going on! A very difficult combination. Kids, don't try this at home.) A biker (in chaps, of course) took this picture. His buddy stopped, whipped out his own camera and said, "I've got to get one of that, too. These girls look like they know how to have fun!"

Oh you silly bikers, we do. We do.
Then just like that, it was over. She packed up and drove away with the curly-tailed dog in tow. Pooh King and I moped all day. We're barely getting over it now.

I really don't have time for this...

But I can't just leave you hangin'!!!

Amanda came to visit, and we were off on a whirlwind tour of America's greatest treasures. Of course, Carhenge came first (but you've seen that). On Saturday, we drove to Mt. Rushmore... and so did 90% of the motorcycle riding population. It was the beginning of "Sturgis" which is one HUGE motorcycle party in the Black Hills. At one point, Amanda looked at me and said "Ummmm, do you get the feeling we brought the wrong kind of vehicle?" as we rode in her Jetta.

These towns, they really do it up right. This shot was in Keystone, and they had the original "traffic cops" to help you out.
Amanda's other great quote of the day? "Aaaah, a national monument, a beer tent, and men in leather chaps. Does it get any more American that this?"

I think those men were bringing sexy back to America's national monuments.
Okay, just for kicks, I'll actually show you the mountain.
The biggest laugh of the day? As we're walking back down the Avenue of Flags, a biker guy and his lovely lady walked past, and this exchange was overheard...

She: Do you want to hold my hand?

He: Uh, no.

I think my seester had to sit in her pee pants all day long after that one.

Update

I have:

• The entire bedroom packed.
• One pair of Danskos out to work in this week. (Quelle frommage!!!)
• One pair of flip flops to drive in.
• One pair of Teva sandals to load/unload the trailer in.
• 5 days of work clothes.
• 3 days of travel clothes.
• The bathroom and living room left to pack.
• 1/2 bottle of Cab Sav.
• A bench.
• An air mattress.
• A new address.
• 1600 miles to drive starting Saturday.

Soon, Carhenge will be in the rearview mirror.

GAME ON!!!!!!!

Calling Officer Grumbles...

Officer Grumbles, I thought you said you didn't want to come out here again!!!

Not to worry, Ossifer, Amanda is my designated driver...

uh-oh... it's on!

One guess at who's in town... all hell's about to break loose!

I know, I know. I promised stories and pictures from the rodeo. But it's been busy around here with the packing and continuing ed and all... Last night I had dinner with the Bossman and the Boss of the Bossman (his wife). Then today it's off to the vet for Pooh King so he can have his stitches removed. Sheesh!

Here's the skinny on the rodeo... Cheyenne Frontier Days had its 111th anniversary this year. It's been voted the best large outdoor rodeo in the country for several years in a row. They call it "The Daddy of 'Em All". This year? It rained. I mean, it POURED, in the middle of it. Lightning crashing all around, thunder rolling. Really, it was a site. Thankfully we were under the canopy. But does rain and lightning stop a rodeo? Oh, hell no! I think if anyone had been struck, they'd have started selling steaks right off the bull that went down. The arena turned into a quagmire, and the cowboys were mud from tip to toe. Steer wrestling? Aye carumba! The wetter it got, the crazier the crowd went. It was AWESOME!!!

See where this guy's number fell off? That's how nasty the ring was.

God bless her. This old lady obviously got her hair 'did' for the rodeo. It was jacked up to the 6 pound 7 ounce tiny baby Jesus like you wouldn't believe. The hood on her rain slicker wasn't enough coverage for her, so she whipped out a plastic bag, just to be safe. She was bringing sexy back to the rodeo!

This was one of the novice bareback riders. He obviously had brand new chaps, and didn't want to sully them in the mud. The announcer made endless fun of him, and the crowd was cracking up. I'll bet that guy gets harassed for the whole season!