I have a couple of bones to pick with Santa Claus. Evidently, he gave the birds around Bradford Drive a never ending supply of berries-- red, black, and blue. Thus, there is multi-colored bird poo ALL over my car, the driveway, and the steps. It was bad enough that I left for work early specifically so I could get the car washed. I pulled up really close to the fence in the driveway in hopes that it won't happen again.

Second, he brought some noisy toys for my cats... and they like them.

Another point that makes me upset is this: I've never paid much attention to the end of the year pay stub. Geeze o Pete there's a HUGE difference b/w my Gross and Net pay. I almost wish they didn't even show me the bigger number. Ugh.

A funny aside that I've forgotten to "tell" you. A week or so ago I was running on the treadmill at the gym. A man was on another treadmill and I'd never seen him before. He reminded me of the human form of Gaston from the animated Beauty and the Beast. The gym (like most) has mirrored walls (you know, so you can see your red faced, huffy, puffy self pretending you're a trained runner) and I promise this guy was running almost sideways on the treadmill so he could check himself out in the mirror. I was really hoping he'd fall out (cause that would be funny) but instead I nearly fell off watching him. I've not seen him since, but boy our first encounter was entertaining.

Better get to bed. I have to wake up early to run today and then have to go back to work tonight. So the goverment can take half of my Gross Earnings.

Back to the Routine

Christmas is over! It's always amazing to me how fast it flies by! We had a good Christmas at Mom and Dad's. I got to see some friends from home and that's always nice. As always, time with the family is great, although few and far between.

I came back to Louisville and worked last night. It wasn't too bad. I had a headache and slept as soon as I got home from work, so I'll watch church on TV later tonight.

I went to the gym once I woke up. I did a big workout. I need to go run some errands, but am having trouble getting up off the couch to get into the shower.

As an aside, I've lived in this house almost 3 years, and I still got a couple Christmas cards addressed to the family that lived here before me. Seriously? I got a couple sent back b/c it was old addresses so why didn't theirs? Oh well, no big deal.

Okay, I've got get in the shower. I seriously stink.

Mercy!

Mercy! I just opened my LG&E bill. Ouch. It wasn't even that cold last month. I immediately turned the themostat down, but on extra socks, and covered myself up with a blanket. Dad, I take back all those times I said it was too cold at home and called you cheap. I understand.

I spent the past weekend in Florence with Amber. We had the best time. I didn't realize it (how would I?) but in Fountain Square in Cincinnati they have an ice skating rink that you can skate in like at Rockefeller Center in NYC, but on a much smaller scale. That was too cool and other than spending time chatting it was my favorite thing we did.

Before I left the house I called her to make sure what exit I was supposed to get off on. Andrew asked her who she was talking to. She said Kim. I could hear his little voice ask "Are you talking to my Kim?" It was too cute. I ended up talking to Dad the entire drive up there, which was nice. Made it go by quickly.

I'm working a weird schedule at work this week. I was supposed to work Sun, Mon, Tues and be off until next Monday. However, I traded with a girl so she could go with her family to visit her grandmother who was just diagnosed with terminal cancer. Now, this week's schedule is Sunday, Tuesday, Saturday. At least I still have Christmas Eve and Christmas Day off. I've yet to work one and this is my 4th Christmas at the hospital. I will probably have to next year, but as long it's Christmas Day I won't be too upset. I definitely want to be able to go to the Christmas Eve service and do Christmas morning activities. It will all work out in the end I'm sure.

With my one night off, Audrey came over and we made a bona fide adult Christmas dinner for ourselves. We had salad with Mandarin oranges and walnuts, baked Grouper, spicy potatoes and even peach cobbler for dessert. All on Christmas dishes!

I have some errands to do today but just can't seem to get motivated to do them. That has been a problem for me lately. Hopefully afte the holidays I'll be more willing to get out in the traffic. I want to run today but have a big blister on my pinkie toe to my right foot. For those of you that know me at all, I barely have pinkie toes so you might as well say the entire toe is a blister. It doesn't feel good. I think I will try to suck it up and run anway (at the Y, it's too cold outside!). I figure the Bahamas will be here before I know it. I'm going to try to loose 5 pounds by then. It will never happen, but goals are good to have, right? At least when I had all my bloodwork done at work all my cholesterol and things were good, actually a little better than last year. It's good to know that even though exercise and eating right for me doesn't equal weight loss that my heart is healthy!

I can't believe it's 2009 next week!

Winter-- finally!!

I know it's almost Christmas Day, but I can't help of late to be super thankful. I'm thankful that I have a job that isn't affected by the economy. I'm thankful that it provides a great house for me to live in (that looks super cute decorated for Christmas-- the tree in 2 windows and white candles in all the others with a light up wreath on the door). I'm thankful that I am warm in the cold weather. I'm thankful for Christmas and that God loved us all enough to give up Jesus. What more could a girl want?

The week has been good so far. After church on Sunday I went with Keely to a jewelry party. It's called Jolica or something like that. They had some neat pieces but I didn't get anything. Maybe if Keely had a party I would. I was able to take a nap after the party and before work... and woke up when they called to see if I was coming in. Oops. That made the shift go by quickly though. That and the fact I had a dying patient kept me from being tired. Remember the V family in your prayers as he died about an hour after my shift was over.

Last night all the charge nurses went out for a Christmas dinner at Bravo's. Our manager took us and even took care of the bill! A couple of the other charge nurses gave out gift cards to everybody (well, there are only 6 of us total). I got a $10 to Panera Bread and $15 to Target. How nice! My gifts are ready to go tomorrow night, except for the one man who's a charge nurse. I don't think he'd want any Victoria's Secret body splash.

We have some ice and snow here. More ice/sleet than snow from what I can tell. They went to school here. I've been a couple of places but walked. The gym is so close that I never drive. I also walked to the Post Office to mail my Christmas cards. I didn't think it was worth de-icing the car when it's close as well, and flat. It's in the shopping center with Chilli's and Dollar Tree, for those of you who know where that is. I think I was gone about half an hour and boy was I cold when I got back! Be glad you got Christmas cards! Ha ha.

I've been trying to tidy up the house some today. I've been doing a lot better about running the last couple of days. I did 3.3 miles today and 3.4 miles yesterday, at a fairly high speed, too. (I was on the treadmill). Hopefully I can get back in the groove. The mini-marathon isn't as far away as I'd like to think it is.

I work the next two nights and am in charge.

No luck. Nobody would answer their phone or call me back. Yet another night home alone with the cats. Boo.

Clinicals are over! We had a good run and my main goal was the have the students not be afraid of the ICU and I don't think they are anymore. Mission accomplished. It did feel nice because several of the staff members told me that they thought things went well and that I did a good job. I have to admit, that made me feel good. It's always a bit intimidating going into a setting where you don't know the staff and nurses aren't always the most welcoming of people. But the charge nurse told me to come back. Hopefully I'll be able to. I'm not sure when I'll know if/when I'll be doing this again.
I went to the park to run after I left the hospital. I let out early since it was the last one and they have finals next week. It was rough. I've not been doing very good lately at running (or even going to the gym for that matter). I've been trying to increase my speed, but if I do that I can't go very far. I think I've decided I'd rather poke along for longer than run faster for short bursts. I think I've said this my last 20 blogs, but I've GOT to start going to they gym regularly like I used to instead of 1 or 1 days a week.
I am hoping to get into something tonight. We'll see.

Cheap gas, travelin', a big waste of space

We had a lot of rain here today. Made the errands I ran today interesting. I want you all to know that I filled up my gas tank for $1.36 per gallon! Woo hoo! This made me very excited since I was SURE that it would never go below 3 bucks a gallon again. I guess that's what I get for not agreeing with Dad. :)


I made my first trip to an Aldi store today. It's a discount grocery store. I got a lot of things and it was definitely cheaper than anywhere I've ever been. I've tasted a few things and they are just fine. Thanks to my friend Emily for suggesting it.


I am going on the cruise with my friend Sarah BFF. (I'm not sure how the BFF thing got started but I rarely call her anything but and yes, I'm Kim BFF). We used to work together and still kinda do but she's on dayshift and I'm on nights. One of her friends from college is also going. It should be fun and really, how could it not be? Plus, we're spending on night in Miami before we go and I've never been there either. I still need to find the time/place/travel companion to go to 2 new states next year, too. Any takers? Anybody??


I am at work tonight. Ugh. It's not a bad night, but I would just rather be home. I'd love to go part time here and just pick up extra shifts as I wanted, but am not sure if Spencerian would make up the difference or not. In fact, I'm not even sure how to go about crunching those numbers... and I think that means I'm not ready to drop down.


Does anybody remember me saying how difficult it was to get an Indiana nursing license? Unlike KY, the Board of Nursing doesn't do it but they have a licensing agency that provides licensure from everything to nurses, plumbers, carpenters, etc and it isn't that proficient, in my oh so humble opinion. Yesterday I was reading my book when I heard the mailman deliver the mail and could tell it took him awhile to get everything in the box. When I finally went to check, I got this 10x13 certificate stating that Frances Kimbrough Gossett was recognized by the state of Indiana as an RN. Really? Is that necessary? I've been recognized by an RN for quite a while now, thanks. Weird and what a waste of space.


I also need a new book to read and I'm taking suggestions. :-)

I finished the reread of the last Harry Potter today. What good books they are! I think that now I am going to watch the movies (only ever saw the first one). I know they won't be nearly as good, but as I was reading this time I found myself wondering who played this character and how they filmed that. Should be fun and I think a new movie comes out sometime in the next few months.

I finally got all my Christmas decorations up. I need to do some other things around the house, but haven't felt super great today. I really need to get back into the routine of going to the gym everyday, but like many things, that is easier said than done.

It's official! I'm going on a cruise to the Bahamas in February! I've never been on a cruise before and I'm really excited!

I better try to go get several things done.

Yowza

At the gym today, our instructor for Body Pump said she overate at Thanksgiving so we were really going to work it. We spent 45 minutes of the hour long class doing lunges and squats. I'm sitting on the couch right now and even that hurts. Methinks I won't be able to walk tomorrow.

I think I am officially done with my Christmas shopping. It's not a huge feat since I don't buy for many. Even so, I'm glad to have it done.

Am watching Modern Marvels about salt-- did you know there are over 14,000 documented uses for salt? Wow! And yes, I realize what a huge geek that makes me. I'm not ashamed.

Back to work tomorrow. Blah.