Adventures In Tucson

German Chocolate À La Mode

It's been almost a week since my mom's birthday last Thursday (January 10th) and I meant to post a Happy Birthday Wish but was too busy to do so. The night before her birthday I drove down to Tucson, unbeknownst to my her, picked up a steamy, melty pizza pie from Oregano's (best.pizza.EVER) and showed up at their front door. My dad knew I was coming so he quietly let me in while my mom peeked through the front blinds, wondering who could be ringing the doorbell at 7 o'clock at night. I sicked Dookie on her while she was peeking and got the best surprised response that I hoped for! (yay! I love surprises!)

We spent the next morning having coffee and then went to the church to help serve lunch to the kiddies at school, which I immediately agreed to do only after making sure there were no hair nets or booties involved. (Only kidding. Kind of.) When we were finished, we went out for barbecue per my mom's request.

Thanks for lunch, Daddy!

After a little shopping we drove back home to relax, only to find that Dookie had burrowed under the gate and gotten out. My first reaction was to shake my head and say, "Oh, Dookie! Silly puppy!", followed by a reality check, during which the panic set in. She was only wearing her collar and had no single piece of identification on her. (Bad! Bad puppy owner!) We scoured the neighborhood and all I could think was the worst. Cute, potty trained (more or less) puppy with no tags... Someone will scoop her up and love her forever. Busy intersection... Unthinkable horror! Either way, I'd never see her again! Screw my slippers, Christmas ornaments, carpeting, dishwasher (don't ask) ... I wanted my baby back! A couple of hours of driving around streets and allies, and a few tearful phone calls to the Humane Society later, I spotted my parents down the street. They had pulled off to the side of the road to ask a couple of teenagers if they had seen her. My mom began waving her arms at me like she was signaling a rescue helicopter. Running as fast as my flip flopped feet could carry me, I landed on their front porch with mascara streaming down my face. Dookie had been running up and down the street and then managed to find the one house with three other pit bulls. She just sat on their front stoop until someone let her in so she could hang with her PB Homies. I could have peed myself, I was so relieved to see her hop out the door all puppy-ish and happy with no CLUE as to what she put her mama through. Kisses, kisses, hugs, tears and more kisses.

That evening, my dad boarded up the gates the best that he could, while Dookie no longer did her duty unattended by a human (even if the thermometer outside does read 20 degrees Farenheit). My mom opened her gifts, we sang Happy Birthday and my dad served up cake and ice cream. We kicked back to watched Leno and Conan, while Dookie made herself at home on her own personal doggie bed.

Love the Dook

I drove home the next afternoon so I could go to work. Needless to say, Dookie now has a brand new shiny ID tag and our next visit to the vet will include microchip placement!

Soft, Fluffy, Warmness

9/365, originally uploaded by scoobers.

One of my years old, worn out, yet beloved slippers went missing last month and in January it is absolutely necessary to have a cozy pair of slippers to keep one's feet toasty warm, especially when there is an over abundance of cold, hard tile throughout one's living quarters.
Against better judgment, I decided to brave the hoards of shoppers during one of the New Year sales events but ended up scoring these faux leather and sheep skinned little gems at Gap Body. Hidden amongst the slew of socks and slipper stockings adorned with snowflakes and candy cane stripes was the last of their kind with a 50% off the listed sale price. I swooped in and snatched them up before Mama Dooney and her three baby Bourkes could get their hot little hands on them. What can I say? You snooze, you lose. Plus, payback is a beeotch when you practically swipe the last pair of medium sized, super cute, penguined pajama bottoms out of my hand.

I am in love with my new slippers or, as I soon dubbed them, Dookie's new chew-toys. When I walked into the living room wearing them for the first time, Dookie ran to me, tail wagging, leaping up, excited to see me. I rubbed her head as she leaned against my leg and proceeded with an ankle drenching lick fest. My new slippers, adorned with little bows and dangling puff balls proved too tempting for her and the affectionate licks turned into to an attempt to sever a puff from an unsuspecting slipper. I offered only a preview as to what would transpire if ever a mangled slipper should be found. Needless to say, it will not be a pleasant sight for the slippers, me or for Dookie.

I'm taking bets. How long will they last in the House of Dook?
One month? One week? An hour?

Because the house? Is no longer mine. She has taken over it and all that is contained within. In an attempt to protect the slippers I have stocked up on fluffy, sheep skin 'bones', soft squeaky toys and ropes that will serve as distractions. I have also taken to reading the books on obedience, chewing, and house training that Laura got me (us) for Christmas.

Obedience 101: An Intro to Not Destroying Everything In Your Path

Also, apologies in advance to the Pet's Mart trainer who will most definitely have his/her hands full when we make an appearance. Please. We need you. Give us a chance and don't ban us from returning. Thank you.

ReMEMEber

May lost her phone and had an embarrassing moment with a friend's dad. Perhaps not her embarrassing moment but, never the less, because of events unfolding in her life I stole this meme which she posted way back in 2007. Thanks, May. My creative juices are flowing everywhere other than this blog so this is just what I needed.

1. What does your name mean? Katherine means 'pure'. Yah. Ok. Anyone who has known me for a good length of time understands that I have not exactly lived up to that name. However, it may be possible over the last year that I have been re-virginized. Cripes, I need a boyfriend.

2. Where was your default profile picture taken? Scoobers was sitting in my mom and dad's front entrance about 12 years ago.

3. What's your middle name? Ann. It's my mom's middle name too, as well as a third of the US female population. I believe the other two-thirds are comprised of Lynn's and Marie's.

4. What is your current relationship status? Single. Living alone. Again, I need a boyfriend.

5. Honestly, does your crush like you back? Leonardo DiCaprio has no idea that I worship him because I was too shy to pass him my note that said "Check this box if you feel the same way".

6.What's your current mood? Semi-frustrated. No, not because I need a boyfriend but because I can not sleep.

7. What do you like the most? Lazing around, Reading, Blogging, Eating... Gimme a break. It's winter. I'm in hibernation mode.

8. What makes you happy? Dookie!

9. Are you musically inclined? I am inclined to turn my iPod on when the mood strikes.

10. If you could go back and change something, would you? Yes. Several things.

11. If you MUST be an animal for one day, what would you be? I'm like a bird. I only fly away. I don't know where my soul is...

12. Ever had a near death experience? In my past life I actually did die.

13. Something you do a lot? One thing I can tell you that I rarely do, is use sarcasm.

14. What's the name of the song stuck in your head right now? I'm Like a Bird by Nelly Furtado

15. Who did you copy and paste this from? May

16. Have you ever sang in front of a large audience? I sang Jingle Jangle Jingle and Away in a Manger in Elementary School and a spoof on Look At Me, I'm Sandra Dee at our High School student council elections.

17. Name someone with the same birthday as you. Two of the Rockefellers, Kevin Bacon, Toby Keith, and Beck

18. What's the first thing you notice about the opposite sex? Smile and eyes and how he smiles with his eyes.

19. What do you usually order from Starbucks? Some sort of hot, black tea or a vanilla latte.

20. What is your favorite smell? Tucson rain

94-95/365 Annie and Manny

95/365 Annie

Neighbors across the street, we saw one another come and go but I never felt that I could get to know you. I really wanted to tell you how sorry I was after Manny passed.

94/365 Manny

A sweet man who was our neighbor and our landlord. An influential person in the small town. We would not come to know just how special you were until after you died. Thanks for everything.





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Naps 1, Blog 0

Yesterday was the perfect day to catch up on all of your blogs and my posting but instead the wiles of a rainy day, warmth of my bed and 20 hours of wake time tricked me into doing, well, nothing. Napping and nothing. So, I am posting yesterday's entry today since I never got around to it and since nothing much is going on right this very second.

Monday, December 07, 2008

Rainy Day Essentials

I actually made it through a three night stretch without being floated to another unit or having my shift canceled. It's been over a month since I have worked full week and have been out of payed time off for about half of it. The time off itself is great but starting the new year off just as broke as the last one ended is not how I envisioned a new beginning. Just before the holidays shifts have become harder and harder to come by. I'm not talking extra shifts but scheduled ones. Somehow the hospital is able to close down whole 15-bed pods on each floor due to a decrease in patient admissions. It is difficult for me to believe that less people are ill or injured during months of November and December. More likely I think that house staff is at a minimum, people who would normally be admitted for 'observation' don't make it past the ER and that others would rather put off a hospital visit and remain at home with 104 degree neutropenic fevers, festering wounds caused by wine corker mishaps or wait until the trickle of blood from their rectum becomes a gushing torrent.
To this third group of people, I have this to say: On any normal day, during any other time of the year, you would rush over to be looked at, checked over and treated. Why are the holidays any different? Being with your family is important, yes, but this is your life we are talking about (all except wino but not to say your digit is any less important). We want you (and your extremities) to be around for many holidays to come. Exercise good judgment and take care of yourselves people. That is why we are here.

Anyway, it was somewhat refreshing to work a full week and this morning when I walked out of the building the sky was dark and stormy, the air was chilly and the rain was coming down. There is nothing better than leaving work at eight a.m., after your last shift, knowing you can either rush right home to go to sleep or laze around and enjoy a cold, rainy, winter's day.
So here I am. Showered and wearing my flannel jammies, cozied up with my coffee and book, in clean sheets next to a puppy that smells like Pantene*.
One of the many things on my mental to-do list for 2008 (not resolutions per say) is to actually finish one book at a time instead of starting a new one a third of the way through the previous one. Currently, I have four in process. The first book on my list is Bright Lights, Big Ass, which I started before Thanksgiving and have been itching to get back into. If you are looking for a light, easy read that will have you in stitches I totally recommend Jen Lancaster. Seriously funny stuff. Do not try to read this book at 3 a.m. when patients have just gone to sleep (or similar situations requiring complete or near silence, say a golf tournament or Wimbledon).

My coffee is getting cold and my book is waiting. Happy Monday Tuesday to you all. Good day and good night.






*This story and possibly pictures for another day when I am less annoyed and can laugh about it.

91/365 Arturo

We were thirteen. You asked me to 'go with you'. When we went to see La Bamba together my braces tore your lip apart. When my mom picked us up I thought I might die.




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Welcome 2008!

One Smart Cookie

I hope you all had a great kick off to the New Year. It has been a busy but great holiday with lots of time spent with family. Although I am always a little sad when it's over I am ready to settle into a brand new year. Feeling recovered from the constant constant, I hope that I will have more time to devote to daily journaling/blogging. Over all my feelings for the new year are positive and optimistic and there are quite a few changes I plan to make and goals I'd like to meet. So, so long 2007 and welcome 2008! Best wishes for a great year to all of you.

2007 Summed Up

1. What did you do in 2007 that you’d never done before?
Started up a blog!
Vegas
Oil Painting

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for 2008?
There were no resolutions last year. This this year, I have a few but I won't go into them.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes!

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Scoobie and a couple of very special patients.

5. What countries did you visit?
Mexico

6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?
Butterflies. Where have all the butterflies gone? Something along this line... or this... or this.

7. What dates from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
August 28- The day Scoobers died.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Standing my own ground, not allowing myself to be mistreated and weeding out the 'jellyfish' in my life.

9. What was your biggest failure?
The growing financial hole I seem to be sinking into.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
No, thank God.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
It's a tie between my iPod and furniture from Tres Amigos.
Update: A travesty! I forgot my MacBook Pro!

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Dookie! She makes her mama proud!

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
No names but one who I have come to expect appalling behavior from. The other who hurts me the most , with his/her subtle stinging words and actions, only because I love this person so much.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Bills. Although, to look at my progress you wouldn't think so.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Excursions. Visits from far away friends.

16. What song will always remind you of 2007?
"Makes Me Wonder" by Maroon 5.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? Happier and with a better outlook.
b) thinner or fatter? Thinner.
c) richer or poorer? Poorer.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Exercise.
Paint.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Smoke.

20. How did you spend Christmas?
I spent it with my family.

21. How did you ring in 2007?
With my sister and The Groove Merchants.

22. Did you fall in love in 2007?
Nope. Can I count my MacBook Pro?

23. How many one-night stands?
I'm sorry but those words no longer exist in my vocabulary.

24. What was your favorite TV program?
The Office.

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
I don't hate anyone.

26. What was the best book you read?
Tuesdays With Morrie by Mitch Albom

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
The Weepies

28. What did you want and get?
A Dookie!

29. What did you want and not get?
A winning Power Ball ticket. Seriously.

30. What was your favorite film of this year?
The Departed.

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned thirty-four and went to Vegas for the first time in my life.

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
A steady boyfriend.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?
Flip Flop Couture or Pajamarama.

34. What kept you sane?
People in my life. The same things that can make me insane. Funny how that works.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Leonardo DiCaprio.

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Most things GW Bush. Period.

37. Who did you miss?
Scoobie.

38. Who was the best new person you met?
I met a lot of great people this year but to mention one... Fuzzy Gerbil Licker!

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007.
A lesson I learn from my patients every day... Never wait to tell someone how you feel and never put off your plans, for you never know what tomorrow may bring.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

I let the day go by
I always say goodbye
I watch the stars from my window sill
The whole world is moving and I'm standing still

The night is here and the day is gone
And the world spins madly on

~The Weepies