The weekend is over and many of you are headed back to work. Too bad. Not me though, grin. I still have a few days to go. And the weather has been wonderful. More like early spring days or early fall days.

We went for a bike ride the other day. It was a nice ride. Only did about 5.5 miles as my asthma kicks up earlier and earlier lately. I wonder if it is the chlorine in the little pool? It isn't near as strong as in the pool at the gym but maybe enough to have kicked my asthma up some. But. Love that little pool and I have been in it everyday doing my water exercises.

The pool is deep enough that you can actually do several of the exercises we did at the gym. Those were done in shallow water. I don't have the weights here that I did at the pool but it still works out and it is relaxing. Can I say again how happy I am that I live out in the boondocks so I can sit around in the pool without being self-conscious. because I would be. Here I can just relax secure in the knowledge I have no neighbors that can see me. Life is good.

We are enjoying this pool so much we might get the larger size and give this one to our son. And level an area in the back so it sits better. I am hoping to pick one up on sale this year so we can use it next year. We shall see.

Now for the pictures. I thought it was interesting the contrast between this large old barn sitting there in all its old glory and in the back one of those big new blocky homes slowly creeping forward taking over its territory. I decided to make it all back except the new house to show the old being taken over by the new. click on the photos to see them larger.


We went to Palisades state Park the other day and of course I had my camera and took shots. I love this path going down to the river and the light was perfect that day.


Then we saw these two large rock formations that people from all over come to practice their rock climbing on. They were maybe 3 or 4 stories high at the most. Here these young men were busy tying on robes and getting ready to climb down. Looks like quite the distance.



But when you zoom in on the top of the rock there sits their dog. Wagging his tail and waiting for them. Probably took it about 2 minutes to scramble up the sides. Probably take him about 2 minutes to scramble down. I thought it was funny.


Our steak dinner was wonderful the other night. The kids dropped by so we fed them all and had a merry time. I feel so much better after a few days off and am grateful I get several off in a roll to help me get my head back on straight. Work has been just so stressful. Again it isn't the patients, its the politics. I hope things settle down. Everybody is on edge.

Today we are going to just run some errands and I have been slowly reading Kevin's book. Usually I will sit and just read a book in one sitting but I have been too busy to do that so have been just reading a few chapters before bed. Its a good book. He backs up all his arguments with facts. Democrats are even more racist then I knew. It was the Republican's that voted in almost every single civil rights acts on the boards today. Repeatedly. I don't belong to one party but know for sure that I could not vote strictly democratic.. Now I am pretty sure I could not vote for any of them. But who to vote for. That is the question.

Delightfully relaxed.

The day off was just what I needed. We floated in the pool for a few hours. The weather was hot, in the 90's so the water felt great. The pool is big enough you can float on 2 floats easily and it was heaven. I slathered on the sun screen and didn't burn but Rick, stubborn man that he is is burnt this morning. Can we say I told you so.





After we did the pool all day we went to the meat market and bought a slab of meat for steaks. Yummy. Supper today. I think it will be a grill and pool day today. The pool is big enough I can do some water aerobics in also so I exercised my wrist and it feels better. Still swollen but the tendon pain has improved.


We then went out and had some Mexican food and a strawberry Margaretta. That is probably spelled wrong by the way but it was so good. And then I had a early night to play catchup on the week. I hadn't been sleeping good due to the stress at work. I slept 12 hours.
I never sleep that long. My body was telling me I needed to catch up though and I did. I feel rested this morning.


Here are some more shots from that day we went out for a shoot. I gave Rick one camera and I took one. We ended up with several hundred shots, LOL. Love digital. I think we got some real keepers. Love the gray of the rocks from the spray of the water on them and the metal is rusting away.


I captured this shot of Rick taking a shot of me. Silly man. Don't take my picture. He looks so serious.


So today I want a repeat of yesterday minus the margarita. They have like 500 calories. No wonder they taste so good. We are going to hit the farmers market and get some fresh corn and potatoes. I hope everyone is having a lovely weekend. Tuesday I see the doc about my shoulder. I am going to complain about their work comp lady also. That left such a bad taste in my mouth. I sure hope I never leave a bad taste in any of my patients mouths. Ta all.

Boo Hoo

Isn't that a beautiful looking tomato? That was from last week. My mouth was watering thinking about BLT's and fresh tomatoes. This week. Yikes. My tomatoes, my lovely lovely tomatoes have blight and end blossom rot.

They are not sure what causes it, many different theories but I tend to lean toward the too much moisture and humidity. We have had a rainy rainy week. SOB.

My cherry tomatoes are the ones most affected by the blight. Being so tired and working all week I didn't pay much attention to the plants until it was too late. Almost all the leaves are yellow. I pulled off all I could see and the plant looks pretty pathetic. I don't know if any of the tomatoes will survive which is terrible as the plant was loaded loaded loaded. I am so sad. And my lovely big tomatoes. Will the bottom rot off everyone? Sigh.


So onward. Thank goodness for farmers markets. I need organic though. Fresh mouth watering organic vine ripen tomatoes. Yummy.

I am off work. And it is a good thing because I messed up the wrist I had surgery on. Did I mention my cyst came back? Well now the tendon they released is hurting. I hope it is temporary. All that surgery. All that money. Down the tubes? I have my brace on and am taking ibuprofen. I hope I just sprained it.



Work was stressful this week due to the politics of the place, not the patients. I had some lovely wonderful patients. Just a pleasure to take care of. I had this elderly man who was pleasantly confused I just had fun pampering all weekend and he was so sweet. I tell you he sparkled when I left he was so cleaned up. It is nice being able to have the time to do that.


We are getting ready to go out for pizza tonight. I am so ready to relax. We got a raise this week so I find out tomorrow what it is. Should pay for the pizza tonight. Not on the diet but definitely on the mental health diet. Sometimes you just have to feed the soul. A full Julie is a happy Julie.



I have included more of my waterfall shots from our trip last week. There are so many points of interest you can just stand in one place and slowly turn around and get a new shot. Smelled great because of the flowers also.







So Rick is patiently waiting and I think a beer is just what the doctor ordered today. Made it another work week. Life is good.

Last day of my long stretch

And it has been a looooonnnnngggggg stretch this week. Tense and busy. My boss came in and instead of her usual friendly hello bit our heads off. Thing is I can't get mad at her. She is under a huge amount of pressure and stress right now. But. So is her staff.

Anyway. Glad it will be my last day. It probably won't though. Looking at the schedule I know I will probably be working at least one day. One of our nurses if off for an unexpected surgery and she does charge. But, I want a couple of days off.

I just heard this today. Did you know there are no private insurance companies that cover flood insurance anymore? Our government took that part over. Underbid them so to speak. And as a result they are billions of dollars in debt. No real surprise there, but I guess I didn't know this little tidbit. So if you have property that might flood you may consider moving to higher ground. Now I know why so many towns in Iowa have had no help during the terrible flood of last year. Maybe we should all be moving to higher ground. The government is just incapable of running anything, and they want to run our health insurance!

Healthcare Reform bill, what's the rush?

There are plenty of problems with our health care. I am the first to admit it. But. You can be a bum living under a overpass and walk into most hospitals and get cared for. If you have no health insurance you will still get cared for. Yes, you will get a bill. They will take payments. It does cost you. But you do get it. And it shouldn't be free.

We need to reduce the costs of our health care. Not increase the amount it will cost each and everyone of us. And letting the government take over this private sector will in effect be doing just that.

We need to be able to get the treatment we need, not be told it wasn't going to be allowed. We are already getting that with our insurances, we don't need the government butting in also. We need to reduce costs, stop letting the insurance companies tell Doctors how to run their businesses. The overcharging for procedures needs to be addressed and patients not paying for their bills needs to be addressed.

Also what is the big rush to push this health care bill through. Even the president admits he doesn't know what is in it. Something this important needs to be carefully looked at. Not blindly pushed through. Getting fined for not having insurance! Being forced to have a certain type of insurance. Being told you can't get the treatment you need!

And today I hear one of the things on the bill is a mandatory end of life counseling for the elderly to be done twice a month, more if the elderly person is sick. Hummmmmm. Since they will be denying pacemakers, dialysis, heart surgery or any other treatments that might make you live longer then your productivity would it not make sense they would give you counseling on how to cope with your not being needed anymore. Will the Hemlock society run it? Hey, this is what all the people who lost their jobs in this new economy can be trained for. Counseling the elderly on their upcoming deaths. How soon before they nudge us in that direction rather then let nature take it course?

Health care needs to be fixed. But not with this health care reform. Ask anyone who will be voting for it what all is in the bill they won't be able to tell you. And that is wrong. We also need to get rid of Tort reform. With the lawyers running the government though chances of that are slim. So we get test after test we don't really need so the doctor can cover his butt. Sue this drug company, sue this doctor, sue sue sue.

And that's what I think. Whats the rush. Whats really in this bill. And if you believe it will really help us, the people being asked to pay for it...... I have some swamp land I want to sell you.

Made it.

Work went much better last night and best yet I am off tonight. Thank goodness because I am just exhausted. A day off is just what I need. It looks like it will rain any second which will make sleeping nice and restful.

Then when I get up I have a new book to read. Our favorite blogger Kevin from The Black Sphere book arrived and I can't wait to read it. It is called the Big Black Lie. My son was reading parts of yesterday and it sounds really good. He is going to read it after me. They are selling it on Amazon and it is getting really good reviews. I got a signed copy, thanks Kevin, and anticipate it being a good read since his blog is always entertaining.





I talked to my grandchildren yesterday. Gabe blew me a kiss over the fun. Not as wonderful as a real hug and kiss but it will do. I sure miss them. Might be time to relocate.

Well, this will be short. I am too tired to write much and my entries really get strange when I type when I am this tired. Late all and have a great day.

Let the Stress begin

Nursing is a stressful job. Lots of responsibility. They change the meds on you all the time, change your charting all the time. This week you can do this, next week you can't. It changes daily sometimes.

This has been a stressful week. Lots of changes which dramatically increased our work load and stress level. bells and alarms ringing all night long. It drives you crazy. Makes it hard to think and get any charting done. I feel like the the insane asylum are running the hospital and it is just a matter of time before they drive all of us away or fire us. Moral is way down.

I long for my day off and this craziness to end. It is amazing how much change can be brought on a floor by people who don't work in a hospital under these setting. I love it when people who don't do my job tell me how to do it..

Anyway, my shoulder is killing me, my nerves are shot. Time for bed so I can wake up and do it all over again.