Entries from July 2007
Monday evening and all is quiet at my home. It’s nice and quiet. Quiet being the word of the moment. I just spent almost 4 hours at my neighbor’s house. She has two little boys (4 & 2). They were running around and yelling and screaming and playing “high five” and singing and watching old “School House Rock” eps… all in all.. they were being boys. It was anything but quiet.. So, I’m enjoying the quiet.
Earlier today I took my mom back to the airport for her flight back to Chicago (and to my dad.. who is lost without her). We had a great weekend. We went to Providence & Newport, Rhode Island. Two places neither of us had ever been. Providence was nice. Newport was amazing. I had heard about the “summer cottages” at Newport..but until I saw them… wow. I wish I knew how to post pictures because these “cottages” were anything but. Newport was the place for wealthy Americans at the turn of the century to build their summer homes. Some of the homes are still private residences.. I can’t even fathom how much money that it would take to maintain these properties.
So..tomorrow is back to work…
Well, that’s it. Time for dinner.
Bye for now.
Categories: current events
I took the back entrance into my building this morning. As I did, I was admiring the nice Mazda6 that was parked somewhat illegally in front of the entrance. Then I saw it had a permit… “Secret Service”… Anyway, that reminded me that George Bush is in town for some luncheon… Awhile ago I learned that all the city hospitals are visited by the Secret Service for those “just in case” scenarios… They have it timed on how long it would take for the President to get here from whereever he is… how long it would take before they were taken into surgery if that was needed, etc.
That’s it. Have a good Thursday.
Categories: work life.
My boss is interviewing a replacement for me right now.
It’s a strange feeling.
Categories: work life.
I bought a new vacuum cleaner the other day. And I’m using it. A lot. I’m actually cleaning. I’m using all the “on board” tools to clean places that haven’t been cleaned in years. Baseboards. The spots behind the sofas that haven’t been cleaned in forever. Behind the TV cabinet… Wow.. I should have bought a new vacuum ages ago. Ok… full disclosure… my mom is coming into town tomorrow evening.. so, I thought I should probably clean the place for her (but the new vacuum is helping).
Other Miscellany in no particular order…
1. White Sox are the worst team in the majors (or are they are tied with Kansas City for that honor?). I sorta have stopped paying attention.
2. My friend J. I haven’t mentioned him in awhile. I guess because there isn’t much to mention. It’s that growth thing again. It’s a lot more difficult for me to be friends with men who have girlfriends. The whole wedding invitation thing… It would have been fun to ask him to come to the reception. It’s being held at a cool museum in Philadelphia (the Mutter Museum)… but I never would (and didn’t) because of his girlfriend. I did see him last week and it was good to catch up..if only for a short period of time.
3. As of today I have 21 days left to work. It’s crazy. I can’t believe I’m down to 21 days. There is so much to do in that time.
4. And, yes… I’m very excited to begin school. There is that fear of the unknown… but I was talking with someone else who just graduated in May and we were talking about how much I already know. She said that when she first started cliinicals that students were afraid to walk into patient’s rooms because they didn’t know what to say or do. I realized then that I have been walking in patient’s rooms for 4 years already… I have been with families in the morgue, etc.. I felt better knowing that I already have a good dose of familiarity with what can happen in hospital rooms. Now… if I can only conquer Anatomy & Physiology.
5. On page 89 of Harry Potter and The Deathly Hollows. It’s been fun to read this whole series to the end.
Ok.. that’s it. Good night.
Categories: baseball · current events · it's just life..
So, I just finished watching “Best Years of Our Lives” a few minutes ago. The 1946 Academy Award Winner for Best Picture was almost 3 hours long. I watched about 45 minutes at a time. I started yesterday evening, then watched some this morning, and finished it tonight.
Ok. It was better than I thought it would be. That being said, it still was difficult for me to stay interested in it (which is why I watched only small chunks at a time).
The story line for those who don’t know is this: 3 service men have come back from WWII and they are having a difficult time adjusting to civilian life. Homer was in the Navy. He lost his hands in an accident and has hooks. We learn that he was engaged to be married to Wilma. He struggles through most of the movie with how people receive him. He fears that they are just looking at his hooks and not at him. He fears that Wilma will not be able to handle seeing him this way.
In the end, Wilma is wonderful and still loves Homer. She helps him get ready for bed one evening. During this time, Homer tells her how really helpless he is without his hooks.
The other two men are Fred and Al. Fred was married to Marie. But then he met Al’s daughter Penny and fell in love with her. Penny confesses to her parents (Al & Lilly) that she is also in love with Fred. Fred kisses her after a lunch date. She kisses back. He says that shouldn’t have happened…but will probably happen again if they keep seeing each other. Al doesn’t like this…because of course Fred is married. Al drinks a lot. Lilly tallies his drinks during a dinner at the Union Club.
In the end… everybody is happy. Homer marries Wilma. Marie divorces Fred (which, in 1946 was a big deal to say the word “divorce” in a motion picture). Fred & Penny are reunited at Homer & Wilma’s wedding. Fred tells Penny that they may not have a lot of money…but they will be happy. Penny kisses Fred. And Al gets another drink.
All in all.. a decent movie.
Am I missing the big picture about this movie? Maybe I’m too cynical about love right now to see what it’s all about. Or, maybe I have an unjustified distain for old movies.
That’s about it for this Sunday evening. Weekends always go by much too fast…
Hope all is well wherever you are reading from.
ps… I went to see “Hairspray” today… Totally recommend it. Very funny.
Categories: current events
So, my little trip to Danville, PA is over. I got back home around 8ish tonight. All I can say is that it was a long, long day. I had appointments nonstop from 10.30a-5.30p. They scheduled student for me to see over their lunch break. So, a std’s husband felt sorry for me and grabbed me some pizza and a soda from the lunch that was provided for the students.
On my way home, I was almost in a car accident. I am actually a pretty good driver. I had my share of accidents and tickets when I was a teenager.. but since then… really, nothing. I like driving in traffic. I drive better when I need to pay attention more… Well, I was coming through the easy pass toll gate at Midtown tonight… A woman cut right in front of me. She was going slow. I was going 55. I slammed on the breaks. I honked my horn. I swore under my breath (ok.. I swore out loud…but my windows were shut… she didn’t hear me). I was still shaking almost an hour after I got back home. It could have been a horrible accident.
And, yes. I just looked on Career Builder. That is my job listed at TJU. It’s a lot more responsibility that is listed on the entry. It’s a lot of extra time in the evenings and on the weekends. The intent was to have someone hired before I leave at the end of next month. I highly doubt that is going to happen.
Ok. It’s only 10pm and I’m going to bed. Honestly I’m just not in a good mood tonight.
Categories: it's just life..
So, I’m in beautiful Danville, PA for the evening. I have a thing tomorrow morning at Geisinger Medical Center. Anyway, the thing about Danville… it is beautiful..but it is in the middle of nowhere.
When I get here I usually do the same things: check into my hotel, go eat at the Panera in Bloomsburg, and then walk around the Super WalMart (b/c really that’s all there is to do here… I’m sure people will beg to differ… if you are one of them… give me advice for my next trip). Anyway, as I was leaving WalMart with my purchases… I was given two loud “Woos” in my direction from two guys leaving their pick up truck.
I think I was slightly flattered.
Categories: current events
So… it’s 10.19 on Sunday evening. I’m sitting here regretting the fact that I let myself get sunburned today. I had a little change of plans.. at the last minute (well, about 9am this morning) I decided it was going to be too nice a day to NOT go to Baltimore to see my beloved White Sox. So, I bought a ticket (a cheap seat.. not the one I originally wanted…but still a good seat) and after church today drove down. The White Sox didn’t disappoint.. they played horrible and lost again. Oh well.. at least they are consistent.
In spite of the sunburn, I had a great time at the game. Going by myself is always fun because I get to meet tons of interesting characters. From the guy sitting to the left of me… I learned a lot of the history of Baltimore (and where to buy the best crabcakes in the city)… and the guy to the right of me was from somewhere in Oregon but was from Milwaukee… he was enjoying himself just a little too much watching me squirm everytime the White Sox did something stupid.
Tomorrow is my birthday. I wonder if I’m the only one who still enjoys their birthday. I’ll probably walk from 30th Street in the morning and stop at this great flower stand at 17th & Market. It is run by this old Asian couple who always look happy. I’ll probably buy myself some birthday flowers for my desk. I was at some college retreat & the speaker told this story about getting onto a plane and seeing the flight attendant with a beautiful bouquet of roses. He asked her if her boyfriend/husband bought them for her. It turned out that she just bought them for herself to remind her that God loves her. (or something to that effect). I figure if God were around… he probably would buy me flowers for my birthday. And that makes me happy.
My friends Jamie and Suzy made me my birthday dinner on Friday evening. The best were the presents I received from their kids. They each built me something out of Legos and then Joseph gave me blue rock candy on a swizzle stick. Emma’s present was a candy necklace (which I LOVED when I was kid.. my dad would always get me one when we stopped at the gas station on the way home from his mom’s house).
I received a wedding invitation the other day. It said I could bring a guest. I almost wished it didn’t. I don’t know any single guys who would want to go to a wedding & eat bad wedding food. So, I will reply and go by myself. Going to weddings alone is getting old. It’s actually pretty lonely. I’m really, really happy for M because this is something she has wanted for a long time. So, I will go. I will support her & I will have fun…because her day is not about me.
Ok.. it’s almost 11pm. Time for bed. Bye for now.
Categories: baseball · current events · it's just life..
From today’s Chicago Sun Times…
July 13, 2007
ANGOLA, Ind. — A waitress got more than a $5 tip for her friendly service. She also got a $10,000 gift. Jessica Osborne was so overcome she cried so hard she could barely breathe. When she told a co-worker what had happened she called her a liar.
”I got that a lot,” Osborne said.
The money came from a mother and her two sons who want to remain anonymous. The three were regular customers at the Pizza Hut in Angola and she remembered their order: two Mountain Dews, a cup of hot water for a bag of tea the woman would bring in, and a large Meat Lover’s Stuffed Crust pizza.
Each time they would ask for Osborne to be their server and chat with her.
”They make your day better when they come in,” she said.
The 20-year-old waitress told the family recently how she had started college twice before, but had to withdraw because she didn’t have enough money. They came Sunday night and handed Osborne a check, folded in half, with money from an education fund they had set up after a death in the family.
”I said I didn’t want to look at it because I thought I was going to cry,” Osborne said.
Categories: current events
Ok.. I really need to remedy this. Scrounging around for an adequate substitute for toilet paper in the middle of the night… just isn’t going to cut it anymore.
I must get to the store.
That’s it. Going back to bed.
Categories: Uncategorized
