2009

Happy New Year.

Well the last day in 2008. Personally this year was maybe better for us then last year. No one died this year, we got to take a vacation, I made slightly more money and actually paid off quite a few bills. Of course I lost a ton of money on my stocks, but I no longer count that as income, hurts too bad to think about it. Both my sons are healthy and happy and Zoey is still here demanding our attention. I have a new roof literally over my head and wheels to last me a few years, oh yeah, things could be worse.


Rick is feeling better today. So, we have a free turkey coupon that if we don't use it today, we lose it. Of we go shopping. And to the mail and and and. Last day off and lots of running around to do. It is cold outside so I want to make it quick.


One of my predictions is coming true. Now they want to have a city tax. That is a tax on top of our state tax and on top on our federal tax! I paid 12,685.00 in federal taxes last year. I paid 5482.oo in state. And now they want to add another tax on top of that! Now I love my state but not so much that I won't relocate in a heartbeat if they keep this crap up. Because remember...... my insurance has already gone up starting tomorrow and paying less, my internet bill went up, by electric and gas went up starting tomorrow. The government wants to tax how far I drive and my city wants to tax me on how much I make. Kind of takes the joy out of those raises ya know.

So this next year should be interesting. I heard the other day I will have to work until July to break even on all the taxes I will be paying and they may move that back. Now that just isn't right.

OK, this wasn't going to be a rant but I have the radio on and they just announced that new city tax and I am sitting here fuming where I had been all peaceful and happy just seconds ago. Such is the way of the world.

I hope everyone has a wonderful and safe Happy New Year. To all my friends over seas. Happy New Year to all of you, some are already celebrating. It is all my blogger friends all over the world that keep me in hope and give me faith that the world is really a wonderful place. If we just get rid of a few rotten apples. Every country has some of those.

Didn't this year go fast

Well today Rick is sick. We share everything, LOL. He is pretty miserable and unfortunately he has the stomach flu which I didn't have so I suppose that is next. Oh boy.

Yesterday we went to Harold's and I got a new camera bag. They were on sale so I spent a lot less then I was afraid I would. Then out to practice with my new lens. Didn't find much to take exciting shots of but I do have some posted on my photo blog. Its a learning experience. I need lots of practice. I took the shot above but it didn't turn out to my liking so I played with it until I liked it. I would prefer a perfect shot right out of the camera but it is fun seeing what you can do with some of the programs out there.

We went out with friends last night and then to the boat to waste $20. I don't go very often, about once or twice a year but I was glad I went last night as I won $281.00. More then payed for my bag plus dinner and money back in the bank. I was smiling all the way home.

Today I cleaned house and did laundry while Rick slept his life away. Sure hope I don't get that one as I hate getting sick to my stomach. It's just not natural. And I do not want to miss work when I have all that lovely extra pay built up.

A new year. I wonder what it will bring. I have predictions and they are all grim. I hope I am wrong. I predict.

1. Taxes will go way up on everything. Did you see they are thinking about taxing how far you drive! Oh boy. Glad I don't have a global positioning unit on my new van.

2. By the end of the year I predict we will be hearing about he failed policies of President Obama and people will realize he had no intention of paying off their mortgage.

3. We will be attached in our country. Sure hope I am wrong about that but I hear they are already planning it, course they always are planning it. Can't we all just get along.

4. Insurance companies are going to demand people lose weight, quit smoking, exercise etc.... or they won't cover you. And they will insist everyone have health care coverage.

5. This is already happening, but even more businesses will go under thus increasing unemployment which will be blamed on the past administration for at least 3 years.

6. Yellowstone will have a huge earthquake and old faithful will be faithful no more.

7. People around the world will still be decent and for the most part just want to live quietly and raise their families without hurting anyone. They will love their children, worry about bills, and help a stranger. And I predict faith will increase the more it is tried to be written out of our laws and constitution.

8. There will be no new advances in health care treatment as Doctors will only get reimbursed for how successful their patients do. So they will refuse to take a risk on the very sick and ruin their statistics. Because believe me, we are seeing that already.

Gee, its late and I can't think of any more terrible predictions to add but they will come to me. The good thing about predictions are they are things that haven't happened. I pray they won't. But next year. I am going to see how many have come true.

Did I end this on a sour note. Sorry. Hope everyone else has better predictions for the New Year.

Tomorrow we are staying home. I don't go out on New Years Eve but I would like to try and get firework pictures. Decisions decisions. It depends on how Rick feels and if I catch his flu.

Wonderful Monday

Because I feel 80% better. I still have a slight earache and my chest is still sore but the fever has broken and along with that lots of the body aches that go along with it. Yesterday I slept off and on most of the day and when I was up I just read posts on line or read a book. Nice lazy day. Rick made chicken and noodles for supper last night and that always makes me feel better. So.....



We have some sunshine out there today and I actually might go out with my camera. I need a new camera bag as this setup has outgrown my old bag. So much of our snow has melted and the predicted snowfall this week as yet to arrive so things actually look pretty ugly out there, black sludge on the roads and dirty snow. But....if I drive out a country road I might see something worth taking a shot or two of.



I had fever dreams yesterday while sleeping but not nightmares. Some were so interesting I was happy to be spending my day off in bed dreaming away, LOL. There are worse ways to spend the day right.




I decided to post some flower pictures to reflect my happy mood since I am feeling better today. I miss them and can't wait until it is flower time again. Can't you just smell them.

Sunday Already

Sunshine today. I have been feeling just really under the weather so just can't quite get up the energy to go out and take shots so have been framing some old ones. My pleurisy is now a chest crud and I have a major ear ache and head pain on top of that discomfort. I am finally going to call the doc tomorrow but the way things work at that office it will probably be a few days until I can get in. I went to the drugstore to see if they had anything for ear aches but they don't really cover anything so I just got by on tylenol and a warm compress. The type of headaches I get with these are what I think it must feel like to be hit with a stun gun on your head. Or an electric prod. Very sharp, painful, but brief but it keeps occuring if you move wrong. So I haven't been doing much but reading.

I am reading Michael Savage's Savage Nation right now. Very interesting. I am also reading What It Means to Be a Libertarian by Charles Murray as I think I lean more to those political beliefs the anything else. Don't think I could ever vote a straight party though but I certainly believe in what the arthor of this book believes. Less government involvement. Less taxing. Less in your face.

I have a few more books I am going to read after this if I get through these soon. When I feel like this I just want to curl up in my bed and sleep. May do that soon. Sure been not good for much else the last few days. Work called me and wanted me to work any and every day this weekend but I just don't feel up to it so passed.

I am hoping to feel better soon so I can start the reverse process of taking down the tree. Wrapping all my ornaments and packing them away. Then cleaning and dusting. If I don't do it by Thursday they will be up for another couple of weeks as I am anal about getting my ornaments put away correctly and Rick doesn't dare do it wrong, LOL.

It is a month until my surgery. I hope it helps as my wrist is kicking it up pretty good. But you know when you have a temp everything aches. So that is part of it.

Well, time to take a small nap. Take care all.

Fog

Well, I got a new camera and we had a heat wave up in the 40's which turned into a very soupy fog. It was so bad going home was actually dangerous as you couldn't see 2 car lengths ahead of you. So I didn't use my new lens. Just wasn't right for the conditions. But I did get some fog shots.



As you can see about 8 inches melted and fishermen right and left turned out to ice fish in the warm weather. You can just see him through the fog.




The visibility wasn't too bad in the park but wow..... when we hit the highway.


Poor lonely playground equipment.

Twas the Day after Christmas.......

And all through the house. We had a lovely time last night. We went to my oldest son's for dinner and opened gifts over there. His girlfriends kids were there and it was nice to have children around for the holiday. There were also some older girls there, 10 and 12 and they were so cute so we had a lovely dinner and time.

I was running short on sleep of course as I had to work until Christmas morning and we were crazy busy all night long. But I managed to stay awake and even watch a movie when we got home. It was a nice day.

Below is my camera with all the lenses I have for it now. It has outgrown the case I kept it in and I should be looking for another. I can't wait to try out the new lens so Rick and I are going to drive out in the country today and check out photo ops, LOL. Bad thing about this camera is its not as handy to sling over my bike handles during a ride as my old camera and the more I buy for it the harder that will get. I have a fairly large size bag that clips to my bike rack on the back but it still isn't as handy so I will still use my Sony alot. I never thought I would be someone who had 3 camera's they used frequently. Maybe I am going overboard just a tad.




Below is my old Canon AE-1 and all my old lenses and flashes. It still is a great old camera but you can hardly give these away. A few thousand dollars worth of different lenses and filters, camera, cases etc.... So I loaded it up with some black and white film and now that I know a little more about camera's I am going to use it also. That old shot of my MIL working on the puzzle was taken with this camera. I am pretty bummed I can't any of the old equipment on my new canon. It's looking pretty dusty and abandoned so I better clean it up. The joys of living on a gravel road.

I mentioned I bet that I collect Santa's. I got this very cute Jim Shore pin.



This very awesome large Jim Shore Standing Santa, isn't he cool!



And I was thrilled to get this CD from Rick. I don't know where he found it but I used to love this old album, my mom turned me onto it and really missed it without my stereo. Well now its on CD and I can listen away. It is just as good as it was years ago.


Another large Santa, so cute. Soon I will have to move out to make room for them all, LOL.



And I got a router for my computer as my son would like his back, grin. I have a habit of just acquiring their old equipment when they move out. But alas he needs his old one back so I needed a new one.

I am off now until next Thursday but I know they will be calling me. This was the busiest, most stressful week at work we have had in a long time. I am emotionally and physically exhausted not to mention still fighting the stupid pleurisy and low grade temp.

It doesn't hurt as much to take a deep breath like it did when it first happened. I was taking such shallow breaths and running so much Saturday I almost passed out from a dizzy spell. So I got my old incentive spirometer out from an old surgery and forced myself to start expanding my lungs and slowly but surely I am improving. Anyone have to use those before? They are handy to keep around for just this purpose. Guess I'll live another year, LOL.

I bought Rick a power tool and believe it or not he was thrilled, men, giggle. Drill away dear. Fix this and that and this and that and did I tell this was broken. Method behind my gifts alright.

I hope everyone had a blessed and wonderful day filled with peace and joy. We are suppose to get some snow today and I am almost looking forward to it so I can get snow pictures without tracks all over them. Take care all and here's to the new year coming. May it not be as bad as my cynical side fears.

whoopie

Guess what I got for Christmas? I 70-300 telephoto IS Canon lens that I have sinfully coveted since I got my by canon camera. Can we say happy.

Pretty

Merry Christmas

Peace on Earth and Good Well to Man
Luke Chapter 2 verses 7-14

7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
_______________________________________________________


To all my friends here and over seas I would like to wish you a Merry and Happy Christmas. May the peace and love of the season surround you all with its magic. I am sending you all on the winds Peace on Earth and truly Goodwill toward all men. Love and peace everyone.

Back to work

I enjoyed my day off. Caught up with some sleep and just relaxed. The weather was -17 when I got home Monday morning but we are having a heat wave today, + 34. It is amazing how much warmer that feels.

We had large area's of black ice today and there were some terrible accidents. One car lost control and ended up in the river killer 2 people and leaving one in critical condition. There were so many accidents this morning our announcer couldn't keep up. I am grateful I was home safe in bed. You can drive in snow but ice, something else completely.

I have 2 more nights to work. I will be charge both nights and our census is still high. Sunday I had a code blue with one of my patients and during the weekend we sent 3 to ICU so the patients we have are pretty sick. My week off to unwind will be a blessing.

We have been looking in to wood burning stoves. Costs are getting so high and they have some pretty efficient ones out there. I suppose I will have to get one with low emissions or the government will tax the heck out of me or ban it but they do have some of those also.

I see our congress managed to sneak in another pay raise for themselves. Gee, must be nice to be able to just do that. They are talking about freezing our wages. Did you hear anywhere they were going to do that until it was done? And even then only in passing. Ticks me off.

Oh I forgot to say. There were 4 lures in that tree in the picture but many more on the back side. Don't you think you would go elsewhere to cast? Everyone thinks they are good enough not to let it happen to them. I am however a great casting and it wouldn't happen to me, Grin.

We are going to the store and getting supplies and food stuff while it is warm out. 2 more days until Christmas. Are you all ready?

I get to work and make lots of money. But I get off at 7:30 Christmas morning and am off the rest of the week unless they call me in. Could be worse and has. Let the families with small children stay home and enjoy. We are going to my oldest son's for supper on Christmas. I don't have to cook. Cool.

Well, off we go so bye all.

Last night

This is the last night of my 4 day stretch and I am ready. We have been busy every night and our hospital as a unusual amount of patients for this time of month. My floor is usually busy but the other floors usually go very low during Christmas. Unless a lot go home in the next 2 days and no more come in we are going to have a full house. Now I wish my floor was decorated to give them some cheer. We only have a couple of cards out.

The snow has finally stopped for awhile. It is still below Zero and they say it will be -17 tonight with windchill of -37. Burrrrr. I have my long johns out and my fur hat, wristies, wool coat and scarf so am ready for it. Bring it on Mother Nature, I can take it. Wait, wait, hope that didn't tick you off!



Rick has been shoveling in increments since it is too cold to be out long at a time. I walked from the hospital to the van this morning and froze. But is dressed in arctic type clothes.

I have a chest cold now so have been eating zinc and vit C along with tea and honey all night and day. Why doesn't this crud ever happen on my day off? I have a low grade temp and hope it doesn't turn into pneumonia again. I can't call in though as there are still some nurse and staff that live in the country and can't make it in. They need all the help they can get that can make it. And besides feeling crummy I am not so sick that I need to call in. Just under the weather.

We have our oil space heater out. It is amazing how much that cuts down on your furnace running and the house stays toasty. It usually only add a dollar or so to our bill and it saved our butts when our furnace broke a year or so ago. I remember going to bed with hats, and gloves on under 4 quilts and still being cold.

I am all ready for Christmas. We are going to our son's to eat so I don't have to cook. I am making some velveeta cheese fudge. Ever heard of it? Yummy. Doesn't taste like cheese at all.

1/2 pound Velveeta cheese, sliced
1 cup butter
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup chopped nuts, pecans, walnuts
2 (16-ounce) boxes confectioners' sugar
1/2 cup cocoa powder

Spray lightly the bottom of a 9 by 2-inch square pan with a nonstick spray.

In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the cheese and butter together, stirring constantly until smooth. Remove from heat and add the vanilla and nuts.

In a large bowl sift together the sugar and cocoa. Pour the cheese mixture into the sugar and cocoa mixture and stir until completely mixed. The candy will be very stiff.

Using your hands, remove candy from bowl and press evenly and firmly into pan. Because of the amount of butter in this recipe, pat the top of the candy with a paper towel to remove the excess oil. Place pan in refrigerator until candy is firm.

To serve candy, cut into squares.

Today is the winter solstice. Shortest day of the year and the official start of winter. Let the fun begin. I usually toast it in with a hot drink but today it will be a tea drink minus and booze. A hot toddy does sound good though.

Well, enough yacking. Stay warm all or cool depending on where you live. So tell me. Do you have snow or warm weather where your living. I know Linda is having snow and Pam and Jimmy glorious warm weather. What about everyone else?

Snow snow go away

The blizzard is over for now but more is expected tonight and we are bitterly cold. -37 tonight with the wind chills. I am ready for this to be over.


We ran at full speed all night at work. Chest pain city with all the shoveling and people with respiratory conditions having flair ups. Not everyone could make it in due to the weather so we were not staffed quite as well as I would have liked. And I felt like crap.

I still am having pleurisy but now it feels like it is turning into a chest cold. Bummer, a cold for Christmas, hopefully just a cold. 2 more nights to go. At least I have everything done for Christmas and can just work and sleep and not think about getting out and doing anything else.

This winter weather seems like it wide spread, I can't believe all the places that are getting snow that never get it. And is it officially winter. Is that today or tomorrow?

Surprisingly not many accidents now. The majority of them are the first day until people get it through their heads they need to slow down. Now it is broken limbs from falling and frostbite type things along with the chest pains and things I mentioned earlier. Yup, love Iowa.

Well. Rick did make it home yesterday and did have plans for supper. Tonight he is making egg pie. It smells so good. I am hungry. I never lose my appetite, LOL. And it is time to eat so bye all and take it easy this weekend.

Digging out

I slept lousy as all the background noise is people digging out of their caves. Snowblowers and snowmobiles, ATV driving by and the big plow. People getting stuck and then yelling instructions back and forth as they try to get out of my ditch innocently buried by the snow. Now who would have thought there was a ditch there? Thing is most are my neighbors and should by now I have a ditch in front of my house.

So I slept poorly. And woke up with pleurisy. Ever had that? It's an inflammation of the lining of your lung. Makes it really painful to breath. Probably brought on by breathing in the cold air. And a throbbing headache to boot. Ah yes, the beautiful Iowa winters have done me in again.

Actually this is more like the winters I remember as a child. It was like this every year. For the last several years we have had mild winters. Still cold but not snow like this. Well last year we got that 14 inches but that was in March and didn't last long. This snow is destined to be around now until spring. And we are going to be adding to it.

Rick isn't home. He doesn't have the cell phone on and I have no idea if he is stuck somewhere or just running around. Should I plan supper or has he got a meal planned. Should I be making plans for someone to bring me to work? Should I have a search party out looking for him. Did the old van bite the dust. Who knows. Time will tell. Of course he will get a little nag from me about not having the cell phone on.

Oh man, breathing just hurts. I wonder if my inhaler would help something like this?

Well enough of this post. Sounds pitiful. Zoey was just out and now has to do leaps to get across the yard as it is deeper then her tummy. Kind of hard on the old girl and she isn't as thrilled as she was a couple of days ago either.

Well, think I will heat up some ham and beans for supper. Heck if he has something planned or not. By all.

Blizzard

We had 10.5 inches last night and a full out blizzard. 21 people were late or absent from work and we all worked late while waiting for our replacements to come in. I was charge and was really sweating it as my replacements was one of the last to arrive. Remember I had been up for 25 hours by then. No way could I do another 8 and still come back at 7 pm. Our street hasn't been plowed so we plowed are way through with the old van. Now we see something leaking that looks sadly like trani fluid on the snow. Oh no. Not the old van.

My son arrived safely home all 30 miles and then had to park a half a block away as his street isn't plowed either. This snow was on top of our 5 inches and we are expecting another storm Sunday. Good old Iowa weather.

Well, bed time for this tired nurse.

I remembered my MIL's old Danish Christmas postcards so thought I would post one of them. Aren't they cool. Very old from the early 1900's.

Weird headline of the day. Plane hits cow, pilot able to land safely.

We are expecting more bad weather today. Sleet followed by snow. Now I guess I don't mind the snow, but the sleet is awful. My youngest son has to drive over 30 miles in this bad weather. And yesterday my oldest son had another scare with his work truck.

It started sliding and when he corrected it went up on 3 wheels then slid again and then the 2 front wheels went up and the spring suspension broke bringing him to an abrupt stop. It almost rolled. Now remember, this is a huge garbage truck. There was a very good chance he would have been gravely injured or killed. 2 weeks ago it burst into flames. I didn't realize what a dangerous job his is until he got it. When he lived in Phili he got his job because someone was killed. People throw away cans that explode, bullets, people run into them, all kinds of things.
And he has to be out in all this type of weather. They never cancel. And my youngest sons job never closes for weather. Of course my job never does either. So here we all are having to be out in weather they tell you to stay home in. What fun.

In ice storms I always think of the power company workers and city workers out fixing our lines and cleaning our streets. Praise god for them. We just had one of our radio announcers freeze to death in his own home when his power went out. So they have a very important job. So kudos's to them.

I start my long stretch today and won't be off except Monday now until Christmas day. We are usually busy as I have mentioned for this season so it makes it go fast.

Please stop by Nancy's. Her mother passes away. Such a sad time for many people.

Well, time to actually get some work done before work. I am going shopping to get Rick on more visit and I am going to stop and donate some money for Christmas to the American Red Cross. That is my gift to myself. Take care all.

Yippy, the snow stopped

Zoey would be happy if it snowed every day as she loves it but I can live without it. Makes driving difficult. We have had several accidents since yesterday and I can't help but wonder about the bicyclist. Did he stay in the motel another night? I hope so.

The sons stopped over yesterday and my youngest with gifts for his nieces and nephews he wanted me to wrap. Oh mom, you do it so much nicer then me, suck up suck up. Of course I will have to run them to the mail. Hope they make it on time. Talk about waiting until the last minute. They were both thrilled with the cookie baskets though.

I have to go the post office anyway. A gift I bought Rick arrived broken and I have the insurance claim ticket now. I hope they don't give me a bad time.

Today is Donna's surgery so I am keeping her in my prayers and sending her warm healing thoughts. I hope Dutch got through her surgery without incident and will soon be back with us.

Well, time to wrap presents and get ready. We are going to be up to 14 above, a heat wave. Yesterday I was shoveling snow and it was 9 above. I didn't even have my coat buttoned it felt so much better then 12 below. However I put my wrist and back out doing that little bit. I feel so useless some days.

Well, off I go. Take care all.

The Other Battle of the Bulge

Weather like below, of which I am guessing we have 6 to 8 inches so far......







And cookies like below are creating my own battle of the bulge, can't exercise, LOL.

Actually both of the baskets are now full and ready to be delivered to my son's houses. They will be thrilled. Not sure if it will be today though. It was suppose to stop snowing around 1 but so far it shows no signs of stopping soon. I can drive with the old van in this weather. Thank goodness for all wheel drive. But its the other people on the road that worry me. I am grateful neither of my sons have to work tonight.

The cookie dough comes like it looks below. I swear these taste just like home made and are so easy. My kind of cooking.


It's beginning to smell alot like Christmas, la la la la la


By the way, there is a meeting of 650 global scientists going on right now that are fighting the notion of global warming. They want to know how someone could have been awarded the Nobel Peace Price on a notion that has no basis in scientific fact what so ever. They demand to be heard, no silenced. I'm listening. See, I am in good company.

Could use a little global warming right about now, its +9 out and falling, as is the snow.

Battle of the Bulge

Today is the anniversary of the Battle of Bulge,

bet you thought it was about my on going and not very successful battle of the bulge, Just thought I would toss this in.