Day 120

My Grandmother on my father's side grew up in a restaurant. Her family owned it, and she was in charge of making the desserts. From what I remember, this was a "Mom and Pop" kind of place, which ran to pies and cakes and cookies.

As you can imagine, my Grandma could bake! We lived with her for several years, from the time I was a toddler through second grade, so I was able to take advantage of her homeade goodies on a regular basis. She was a mean cook too- I can still remember her pot roast, fried chicken, spaghetti, and homemade mashed potatoes with real gravy. Needless to say, I was not the skinny kid in my kindergarten class. I also remember her cooking cow tongue, but that's another story....

It seems as though there were always some kind of sweet around the house at Grandmas. But my two favorite things in the world that she made were cream puffs and rhubarb pie. One day at the grocery, she pointed out the stalks of rhubarb to me. I was suprised, thinking they looked like pink celery- and celery sure didn't taste like pie...

Last night, I tried my hand for the first time cooking with rhubarb. I opted out of pie (I did NOT inherit her pie making skills...), and decided instead on a strawberry-rhubarb topping. I cooked the pink celery with Splenda until it basically fell apart, then added a couple spoonfuls of sugar-free strawberry jam, cinnamon, and a few fresh strawberries. I let it cool over night, and the result is delicious. I put it over frozen yogurt tonight, but it would be equally good mixed in with yogurt or oatmeal- yum!

And as I chopped the rhubarb on the cutting board, I thought about my Grandma and allowed myself to miss her for a few minutes. But when I took my first bite and that familiar tangy pink celery hit my tastebuds- I realized I didn't need to miss her. She was sitting at the table with me.

Today's picture represents how certain foods wind up attaching themselves to those we care about, and that those attachments can help us stay connected long after they are gone.

Day 119

I was grumpy when I arrived at the gym this evening. I was hoping to run outside, but Mother Nature had other plans. Now I was forced onto the dreaded treadmill, something I had hoped I had shed until fall.

There are little islands of mulch and trees in the parking lot, and as I passed by this particular tree I was so struck by the oddness of the leaves growing straight out from the trunk that I had to stop and take a picture.

It was like they just couldn't wait to pop out all the way on a branch- they just poked right through the trunk instead. I can't tell you why it made me smile- but it did. 

Today's pic represents defying the norm, and how doing so can sometimes make people stop and take notice. And maybe smile.

Day 118

Until around the year 1995, being female and over the height of 5'8" or so was nothing but a pain in the ass.

Not only were you cursed to choose from a smaller (no pun intended) array of boys that MIGHT be taller than you in Middle and High School to go to the dance with, but trying to be fashionable  AND tall was nearly impossible...

Warmer weather was easier, because shorts, skirts, and t-shirts fit reasonably well. But I grew up in Ohio, where cold weather rules. I can still remember having to buy men's jeans because you could buy different lengths- "tall" pants and jeans were rarer than panda bears in the wild. And don't get me started on shoes...size 10 or 11 were almost impossible to find, and the Internet was not around yet. I remember driving an hour and a half with my mom to a shoe store that "specialized" in large women's shoes- geesh. Talk about feeling like an amazon!

Dresses were (and still are to some effect) my worst enemy. They were either way to short, but fit me in the waist- or long enough but ridiculously big in the chest. So when it came time for one of the school dances, instead of heading with my mom to the mall- we went to JoAnn Fabrics.

My mom is a master seamstress. She is about 5'10" also, and grew up having to make a lot of her own clothes, since she couldn't find them in her size in the stores. That transcended into her professional life as an adult- business suits either didn't fit right or were outrageously expensive. So my mom always had a project going on- a formal dress for me or my sisters, a suit for her, or curtains for the living room. She even made my older step-sister's wedding dress. From scratch. Talk about an heirloom.

I can still remember having to make sure the dining room table was wiped down after dinner, and mom getting out her sewing machine and iron out as I dried the table off. She would lay fabric out with those paper-thin patterns, securing them with butter knives and safety pins that had the colored balls on the end. I would do my homework with the sound of the sewing machine in the backround, or the hiss of the iron as she pressed the next piece of fabric.

I wish I had paid more attention to what she was doing. I made a few skirts here and there- I even made my own "Jams" shorts (yes, I was an 80's child...). But as the fashion industry responded to the increasing amount of tall females, I preferred to spend my time at the mall instead of with JoAnn.

Last weekend I decided to make my own dog bed for our mastiff. The poor dog suffers from many of the same troubles as I did in my younger years- they just don't make things big enough for him. I bought fabric on Sunday, and searched the Internet for patterns and YouTube videos on "How to make a dog bed"- another advantage that wasn't available when I was younger.

So, after dinner, I wiped down the dining room table, and for the first time as an adult got out my own bag of fabric. And as I laid out my pattern with butter knives and colored-ball pins, I smiled to myself. Maybe if this dog bed thing works out I will try my hand at something for Baby G...

Today's pic represents taking matters into your own hands when the mercantile communty fails you, and a woman's wish she had spent more time with her mother at the sewing machine. Luckily, she only lives 2 streets away- I've already texted her to see if she will help me sew it together....

Day117

Although my family tries to avoid fast food as much as possible, there are times it is just too convenient or necessary. But if you ask my son where he wants to go for lunch, he will probably say Subway or Tropical Smoothie instead of McDonalds, so I consider that a win.

A few months ago we realized that the 10-year old had never been to Taco Bell. Not that we have anything against the place- it's just not a place we think about when deciding on where to eat. In all honesty, even I probably haven't been there since before he was born. 

So today, we made history. Well, history within our family at least. My son and I went to Taco Bell for lunch. 

We were both a little overwhelmed with the menu at first. Most people probably have favorites that they usually choose, but most of the choices were foreign to us. Eventually I decided on a chicken salad and the 10-year old asked for 2 soft tacos.

All in all it wasn't bad at all. My salad tasted good and those soft tacos got wolfed down lickety split. I let him go back and get some Cinna twists just because- well, why the hell not, right?

Today's picture represents the small bit of happiness found in a mother/son lunch at a fast food joint, and trying something new. I'm sure we will be back to Taco Bell now before 2024....

Day 116

I try to participate in several fundraisers every year. I think it's so important to give back, in whatever way you can. I have always been a supporter of the American Heart Association (big suprise), and I do what I can to support my son's PTO through all the fun, different events they have throughout the year.

But my favorite by far is the TWIG 11 Run for the Roses event that supports our local Children's Medical Center. They run with a Kentucky Derby theme, and at $35 per ticket, it's a great way to participate in a more formal event that still packs in fun for everyone, no matter how much money you may choose to spend. Plus, we get to wear hats- the big "Southern Lady" kind. How can I resist that?!

But I come to win. That's right. I save up my Mad Money for this event, because the prizes and raffles are awesome. It's a ladies-only event, so the vast majority of gifts are female oriented. They had so many ways to win this year:

- The traditional 50/50 tickets, only $5 for an armlength and the winner got $250

- The $250 dollar bouqet of roses- meaning you bought a raffle ticket for $1 and the winner got $250 plus the roses

- Mystery Boxes- Little petit four cakes in individual boxes were $5 each. 10 boxes had winning stickers on the inside, which correlated with a mystery gift bag. Bags held everything from Papmpered Chef to Yankee Candle to DIAMOND EARRINGS

- The Wine Wall- For $20 you bought a bottle of wine, many of which were worth more than $20. You drew a number out of a jar, which corresponded with one of the wine bottles on the wall. If the bottle had a sticker on the bottom of it, you won a prize. If it didn't, your number went into a drawing for a $500 gift certificate to The Greene (an outdoor, upscale shopping mall).

- Silent Auction- About 50 different things were up for grabs, from frames to liquor, to home decor. There were Kate Spade purses and jewelry, as well as Michael Kors wallets as well...

- Basket Raffles- These are HUGE themed gift baskets and packages, all worth anywhere from $100 to probably $400. Again, raffle tickets sold for only $1 each.

- Live Auction- These were the big winners. Gift packages valued at anywhere from $400-$2250 were on the ticket. Lots of tables pooled their money together, splitting the goodies since they were so large. You should have seen the women fighting over the Coach/Michael Kors basket...

So, as you can see, anyone could particpate. And participate I did. But it was well worth it.Instead of going to Vegas or "the boat" to gamble and wonder where my money went, I knew it was going to a good cause even if I didn't win a thing.

But boy, oh, boy that wasn't the case this year.

I came home with an entire serving tray full of petit fors and a beautiful home decor piece (silent auction), a bottle of wine (Wine Wall),a bag full of coctail drink mixes (Mystery Boxes), and the biggest gift package from the basket raffles, which included 3 large potted plants, a hanging lantern, ceramic bird bath, ceramic tanle, and $75 in gift certificates to gardening centers.

So a huge thank you to TWIG 11 for another year of fun and prizes. It was a great way to have a beautiful lunch with friends and give to charity, even if I wouldn't have won anything. Today's picture celebrates being lucky, as well as the importance and joy of giving.

Day 115

As I've mentioned before, my youngest son has genetically inherited my love of shoes. And where his taste runs to Nike or Brooks, I have a fondness for Nine West and Anne Klein.

I love shoes. I love beautiful shoes, even ones that I know I couldn't or shouldn't wear. Sometimes I'll see a pair of outrageous heels on the rack in my size and try them on just for fun, knowing I would never have the guts to wear them. But every once in a while, a deal comes along that I just can't pass up.

Perusing the Nine West outlet shop a couple of years ago, I came upon a pair of shiny patent red heels. Although the heels were 3 inches high, they were made of cork, which not only made them more comfortable, but distinguished them as heels that could be worn with both casual or work clothes- something hard to find in a 3-inch heel. Add in the fact the they were dirt cheap in the Nine West world...I bought them, even though I didn't really have any outfits at the time to go with them.

I have only worn them once or twice- let's face it, I don't have the type of life where I go places heels like that are appropriate. The grocery store, Target, and Applebees require more casual attire. But today I decided to dress up my neutral tan suit with a pop of color, thinking it would be a nice change from the usual brown shoes I would wear with the outfit. Plus, it was Friday and I wasn't planning on being at work the whole day, so I wouldn't be succumbed to wear heels all day, and I'm sure hardly anyone would even see them or notice, right?

Wrong.

I guess it's my fault really. I'm 5'11" with tennis shoes and navy blue scrubs on. In these babies, I am well over 6 feet tall. And they tend to make a distinctly different sound than tennis shoes or clogs that most people on the unit are wearing during the day.

It's not my first time wearing heels to work, of course. I even have nurses who have been in patient's rooms and heard my heels clicking down the hallway and been able to identify me before they even see me. But today's red shiny shoes seemed to scream for attention, and attention they got. And let's face it- a nursing unit is full of women, and women just plain love shoes. I even had one patient's wife tell me to go into her 81 year-old's husband's room and show him my shoes to cheer him up- he was apparantly a love of ladies shoes...

I accepted compliments and jokes alike, and even fielded a phone call from my boss who called me in my office from the unit to tell me laughingly she had just been informed I was wearing "hooker heels"...I promptly came out to the unit to show her my cute red shoes, as well as the rest of my low-key tan suit, so that she didn't worry her educator had decided to dress inappropriately.

By one o'clock, I had put in my 40 hours for the week and was free to go. I went back to my office to gather my things- and promptly took off my heels and exchanged them for the flats I had brought in my bag. I mean- that walk to the parking lot would have been murder in those shoes!

I'm back home now in my tennis shoes and workout gear, comfy and preparing to clean the bathrooms. But for a short while today, I felt a little glamorous and feminine. And tall. Very, very tall.

Today's pic celebrates red patent heels, and the power that resides in a 3 inch heel.

Day 114

Tonight I went perusing through old photographs in order to pick one for "Throwback Thursday", a popular event on social media in which people post pictures from long ago. Some are hilarious- I mean, you should see my 6th grade school pic...no. Acutally, you shouldn't.

Some are sentimental- pics of college friends with arms around each other, beers in hand. Others are portraits of loved ones no longer with us, a small tribute and moment to stop and remember someone who had meaning in their life.

But as I scrolled through photographs of trips to Wahington D.C., work gatherings with friends, and the endless snapshots of my children, I found this one. And it made me smile.

Because although that kid in the picture is mine, it could of been any one of us. At least I hope it could be. I remember the sheer glee at the dizziness of rolling sideways down a big hill. Then standing up, running back up to the top, and doing it again. I remember spinning round and round with my eyes closed and head up, giggling at how I couldn't walk a straight line afterwards. Isn't it funny how some things just don't change, generation after generation?

The weather is gonna be good this weekend. Take a kid outside and roll down a hill with them. Then spin around until you almost vomit, and laugh at each other as you try to walk a straight line. Chances are, you will bring back childhood memories while creating new ones for someone else.

Day 113

Yeah. I have awesome friends.

Upon arriving to my 10-year old's football practice (at a neighborhood children's park no less), my girlfriend presented me with this tank top to commemorate becoming a grandmother.

And yes, the letters are pink and sparkly.

So now I just have to figure out where I can wear it. The delivery room would probably be inappropriate, huh? Maybe I'll try it out at sand volleyball this Friday night. The songs they play on the overhead speakers are definately not censored, so I'm probably safe.

Baby G is doing well, by the way. Next ultrasound is April 6, and I have marked my calendar. Went to the store today and bought Qtips- I'm running out of gender neutral stuff to buy...

But as funny as my tank top is, I am touched to have a friend that would go out of her way to have this made for me. In all honesty, she could probably make a fortune selling these. I can't be the only one who thinks it's awesome!

Today's picture celebrates friendships and laughter, and the smile you can bring someone when you go out of your way for them.

Day 112

As I was out for an evening jog, I decided to run through the parking lot of our town's Middle and High school campus. I only live a few streets over, and it's a nice flat area to get a warm-up started.

As I crossed from neighborhood to school property, I looked to my left and was instantly transported back 25 years- for up on the field was our Middle School girl's softball team.

I played softball in middle school. Having never really played the sport before that, I was nervous about trying out- most of the girls had been playing rec ball for years, and this was fast pitch. But, I decided to give it a try, knowing that it would give me something to do after school and secretly hoping my teenage butt would look cute in those softball pants...

I quickly learned how behind I was during tryouts. I could catch pretty well, but my aim wasn't spot on or fast. I could hit most balls, but not as far as many of the other girls. My advantage?

Speed. I was all legs at that age and could get from home plate to first base quicker than most, despite my lack of homerun abilities. I could also get to a ball in the outfield well- I even caught it some of the time...

I worked my butt off the next couple of weeks, coming early and staying late to practice drills and hit balls into the fence. And when it came time to pick a team, I nervously approached the coaches.

I made it. Barely. I mean they literally told me that. And I was never so happy to be last in my life.

I continued to work extra hard, and finally the day before our first game arrived. I had no real expectations of playing much unless we were creaming the other team, but was going to be happy to root on my teammates and wear the cute pants.

The head coach came up to me during practice as I was (again) hitting a ball into a fence, trying to get my swing even so I would stop hitting pop-ups (my nickname was "Sky"..). He proceeded to tell me that I was going to start our first game. In right field of course, but still. Starting. He told me that I had earned the position by working so hard and being part of the team. He also told me not to make him regret the decision, then walked away.

I don't even remember if we won that game, or if I caught a ball in right field. But I do remember the feeling of pride and accomplishment when the coach told me I had earned a spot on the field. I eventually got to play some first base and center field as I got older (again- great at catching, sucky at throwing...). I've told that story to all three of my kids, hoping to teach them that hard work and perserverance will pay off.

So today's pic celebrates memories of spring days on the ball field, and reminds us that hard work deserves to be recognized. So be sure to tell others you notice when they are working hard and/or improving- because everyone doesn't have to be the pitcher or shortstop. For some, right field is awesome when you started on the bench.

Day 111

While trying to decide what made me happy today, I kept circling back to one thing.

Yes, you guessed it. 

A list.

This is a new list for me. I've always enjoyed gardening to some degree, and have gotten a little more serious and in-depth each year that I have been a home owner. This year, with interests in improving my yard in the areas of landscape, hard scape, annuals, perennials, and vegetables- I started to get a little overwhelmed thinking about everything I wanted/needed to do.

So I turned to my never-failing coping mechanism. I started with what I wanted to do with the front yard. Once I had written everything down that I thought could be accomplished this year, I triaged and numbered them in order of importance and overall timing. Then, I assigned a weekend day to each task. The process was repeated for 3 out of 4 sides of the house. I also made a list of things that needed done regularly, such as weeding, watering, etc. , and  those went on a subset list in the corner of the page.

In the end, I technically wound up with about 5 different lists all rolled into one page. I also decreased my anxiety level by more than half, now having an actual plan instead of just a bunch of things in my head that I want to get done.

Why do lists make me so happy?! Who knows. Sometimes I think it's not that they make me happy, but rather they keep me from absolutely freaking out. I consider myself to be a reasonably roll-with-the-punches type of person. But when I am overwhelmed with things that need to be done, I actually have a hard time focusing and digging in until I take the time to lay out how to accomplish everything. 

I have worked on this list several times yesterday and today. And next I am transferring the tasks to an actual calendar that I made by hand on graph paper. 

Yeah, you read that right. I made my own calendar on graph paper.

I know, I know! What can I say? I have issues...

But today's picture celebrates the fact that warmer weather is here to the point I can really focus on outside work, and the anxiety-reducing power that resides in a simple pad of paper and a pencil.

Day 110

On the 10-hour drive home today, I had the opportunity to do some thinking and reflection on what I had seen and done over the last few days. 

The core of the trip, of course, was a celebration of 15 years of marraige. And celebrate we did, eating and drinking, talking, and...in general doing things we usually don't have ( or maybe more accurately make) time for.

But as I looked through pictures on my phone as we drove through the mountains, I realized there was another theme to our trip. Throughout the entire trip, we were exposed to amazing man-made creations that were invented and brought to life in order to live and prosper in this country. 

Many of these things we take for granted every day. Like the highway. How many of us drive on a highway every day? I do. But driving on highways for hours on end gave me a different perspective of the vast process and undertaking it must have been to plan and carry out our highway system. 

Like mountains. I mean, before highways, I really can't imagine how people and things got from one side to another! There were 2 mountains so big that we actually built tunnels through the mountain. Can you imagine what kind of planning and manpower went into that? 

Along much of the trip, I could look to the side of the road and see what looked like a wall of stone. Upon closer inspection, you can see vertical lines in the wall. This is where dynamite was dropped into holes that were drilled into the actual mountain, then detonated to make a passageway for the highway. Wow.

My mother, grandfather, and 4 of my uncles are engineers, so I guess there is a part of me that is naturally drawn to such wonders. I saw bridges over land and sea- huge ones that carry thousands of people, let alone pounds, every day. Ships that carry airplanes or containers from one continent to another, and the ports that build and manage these water-monsters. Farms, both by land and sea, that grow food, livestock, and materials in huge quantities and get shipped on the afore-mentioned ships or   Highways. 

So today's pic celebrates man's ability to adapt and follow through, imagine, plan, and build. I can't even get my husband to finish the front sidewalk he busted up a month ago. Thank goodness our forefathers had more gumption :). 

Day 109

Sometimes I take for granted how blessed I am to work in a hospital where i have all the supplies I need. Having spent my career in hospitals in the U.S.,  I have never had to really work under poor conditions, or in cramped spaces.

Today we toured the U.S.S. Yorktown, an aircraft carrier that carried hundreds of soldiers across the ocean. It was a floating city, but it was no cruise ship that's for sure. They had everything you could think of though- galley, multiple laundry rooms, post office, garbage room, church, galley, dining areas, meeting rooms, a larger-than-expected dentistry area, and of course, a sick bay.

Whoa. They had their own pharmacy, full of vials and bottles of liquid and powdered chemicals to mix and match. Several treatment rooms, and a "quiet room" which was either a quarantine room for someone contagious, a mini ICU room, or possibly somewhere to put a sailor who temporarily loses it from being cooped up in a metal coffin for weeks on end...

I could tell that keeping the men healthy was a huge priority on these floating bacteria petri-dishes. When looking at several of the captiain's daily logs, I noticed that "sick call" was done twice per day. Meticulous records were kept on each sailor, and a strict schedule was adhered to so that each man was evaluated on a regular basis. Everyone had a job on that boat (or 2 or 3...) and therefore illness or injury to even a small amount of men could be devastating. 

The Operating Room was crazy. There were pics on the wall of actual surgeries in progress, and I took a moment to think about what that would be like. Let alone the fact that you are cramped in a room with limited supplies- it was on a ship, which I'm sure meant motion....please be careful when handing me the scalpel,right?!

And then there was the sick bay. About 20 cots in one big room. There was a big metal cylinder in the middle of the room, and upon closer investigation I discovered it was a "glove conditioner". There were no handy boxes of small, medium, or large gloves on the wall. You must have had to place your gloves in this cleaning machine, then turned the handle one way to dry them and the other way to powder them. Crazy!

I'm sure sick bays in today's aircraft carriers are much more updated, but it still gave me a moment to pause and be thankful to work in a nice, non-moving environment. I give thanks to those who did serve and work on these ships to care for others, for I'm sure it was challenging, especially in times of war. 

Today's pic commemorates those who have served in our armed forces to heal others. Doctors, nurses,medics, and dentists- I salute your dedication and ability to make do with what you have. 

Day 108

History. It was never my best subject in school. In fact, social studies and history were among my least favorite classes. Give me Science or Math any day.

Unfortunately, this has lead to me being able to clearly teach how open heart surgery is done and how to care for patients afterward- but I have no idea how the freedom to be able to live to do so was accomplished.

Today I visited Fort Sumter. What a great experience. I learned so much. Fort Sumter is literally where the Civil War began. And this area has done an excellent job providing information and education in different ways- written, audio, etc. so that even history-dumb people like me can learn. 

Today's picture represents lifelong learning, and the importance of taking the time to learn history. We are what we came from, after all. 

Day 107

Wedding anniveresaries for my husband and I happen every year. Traditionally, we have given each other a card and gone out for dinner. 

Every 5 years, we have gone on a trip. At year 5, we went to the Bahamas. and on our 10-year anniversary we spent a long weekend on Amelia Island. 

Today, my husband and I have been married 15 years. We have been joking and calling it our 15-year "We're not divorced" anniversary. But in truth, I think 15 years of marraige is something to be proud of- especially since he still leaves his dirty clothes on the floor...

We decided on Charleston, SC for our 15-year trip. We are interested in possibly retireing one day down this way, and decided to start some scoping. So, here we are, immersed in a town full of history and shopping.

It's beautiful here. We spent the day walking in the sun, shopping and eating and drinking along the way. And as we walked along the harbour holding hands, we talked anout how lucky we are, and how far we have come in the last 15 years. When we got married, we couldn't even afford a honeymoon. That didn't really bother either of us then, for we were so in love and just happy to be man and wife.

But 15 years later, we decided to splurge a little, since we hadn't been able to do so in the beginning. So tonight I write my blog wrapped in a white bathrobe, atop a gorgeous 4-poster king bed. Our bathroom is bigger than my bedroom at home, and we have a veranda overlooking the harbour that is full of history. There were chocolates on our pillows when we returned from dinner, and we will get breakfast in bed tomrrow morning. 

Today's picture represents celebrating sharing a life with someone who makes you happy, even though he may leave his dirty clothes on the floor- and that a honeymoon later is better than never.

Day 106

The Open Road. Just me and the hubby. For six hours...

Pray for us.

We decided to leave tonight for our long weekend vacation instead of in the morning. Tomorrow is the only day our destination spot will have nice weather, so we are anxious to get there earlier in the day so as to enjoy it. 

Six hours alone with him- I don't remember the last time that has happened actually. We flew to Amelia Island five years ago for a long weekend- and haven't traveled without some pieces of our family since.

So hopefully we can keep each other entertained for the next six hours. I'm looking forward to it actually- a chance to start a celebration of our life together by being forced to converse without a 10-year old butting in from the back seat. 

I should probably enjoy it- we aren't even an hour into the trip yet and my husband is talking about going back to Disney next year...

Today's pic represents the little kick gotten from a spontaneous road trip, and the beginning of a weekend of adult-only entertainment.

PG rated adult entertainment, of course. We're going to Charleston- not Vegas :).

Day 105

After dinner this evening, the 10-year old begrudgingly pulled out his backpack to start on his homework. He would have much rather watched a movie or played "Clash of Clans" on his IPhone, but unfortunately Mom the Inforcer was adamant about "first things first". 

I left him at the kitchen table while I went to take a shower. Upon returning to the kitchen, he jumped up from the table and said, "Mom! Did you know that Gregor Mendel studied over thirty different kinds of peas?!".

Now I will admit, I looked around to see if my IPad was on the table, thinking he had looked up something weird to do with urine on You Tube or Google. But no- instead of an electronic device, a biography book laid quietly on the table, with post-it notes sticking out of the pages.

And suddenly, the kid who 15 minutes before was mumbling about homework magically turned into an animated history guide, talking nonstop for at least 10 minutes about not only Gregory Mendel,  but other famous people in history.

From what I could make out of his excited babble, his grade is studying biographies of people who have changed history. Each student reads a book about their history-changer, but then the real fun begins. The kids dress up as their character and stand in the hallway like a statue, until someone presses the "button" on the floor in front of them. They then get to recite a paragraph about the person they studied, much like the animatronics you see in museums and Walt Disney World.

It sounds like the teachers did a great job mixing in the old and the new game changers, helping to keep it more interesting for the kids. The result is my 10-year old being able to recite facts about Marie Curie ( chemist and physicist), Samuel Adams ( law and lager maker), Sally Ride (female astronaut), Princess Diana, Queen Elizabeth, Mark Zuckerburg (founder of Facebook), Albert Einstein, and yes, Gregor Mendel ( friar, grower of over 30 different kinds of peas, and the first geneticist).

So today's picture celebrates learning, and the teachers that inspire kids to do just that. 

Day 104

In anticipation of an impending trip this weekend, I decided to treat myself to a manicure and pedicure. I am working an evening shift today, so I had the perfect opportunity to go this morning.

It was so nice. I haven't allowed myself to get my nails done since last winter, and my toes haven't seen a professional since last summer. I was literally the only customer at first, and I reveled in the silence while Nina the Happy Nail Tech rubbed and scrubbed my feet and legs into submission. 

And let's not forget the massage chair! I chose to go to the spa right after lifting weights at the gym, so it felt particularly good. I remember taking my then 17-year old step-daughter for her first pedicure before we went to Hawaii. Sitting in massage chairs next to each other, I leaned over and showed her how to work the remote. We then fell silently into our own thoughts until suddenly I heard her say, "Oh!". 

Opening my eyes, I assumed the nail tech had nipped her with the clippers. Nope. She had been surprised by the magic ball that shows up every once in a while between your legs in the massage chair...I giggled at her wide eyes and faint blush, then showed her how to disperse the magic ball.

After my toes were done today and Nina was working on my hands, I asked her- "What is it about pretty hands and toes that instantly make a woman feel better?". She smiled knowingly and said, "it gives you confidence. Much like getting a new, beautiful haircut". 

She's right. Between work and the crazy cold weather coming, my toes will be covered up the next couple of days. But I will know that the sexy red nails are underneath, and somehow that will put a spring in my step.

So today's picture celebrates pretty fingers and toes, a woman's moment of vain, and of course, the magic ball...

Day 103

I love things that help me stay organized. And the Bic 4-color ball pen is definately one of those things. I am addicted to them at work, utilizing each color on my daily paperwork to represent different meanings and levels of urgency. 

Unfortunately, there must not be a lot of people who use this particular

pen, because I have a heck of a time trying to find them. I usually have to make a special trip to an office supply store for them, and usually wind up purchasing all four that they have on the shelf. 

I used up my last Bic on Wednesday last week. And it's actually quite ridiculous how out of sorts I felt on Thursday and Friday, with nothing but a lonely black pen. 

So today I took a chance and wandered down the office supply aisle at Kroger, since I was already there. I have looked for my beloved pen here before with no luck, but desperation drove me to check- just in case.

And lo and behold...there it was. My pen. All 4 glorious colors in one fat, admittedly ugly writing utensil. I almost jumped up and down in the aisle. Almost. I did let out a little yip of joy, but I don't think anyone heard me...

So now I can go to work tomorrow free of the distress caused by my Monkness. Whew! Today's pic represents habits and a favorite work utensil. 

Day 102

On this beautiful Saturday evening, I found myself out and about on my own at dinnertime. I've been well under my calorie count this week, so I decided to treat myself to dinner out. Since I was by myself and wanting to get home, I limited my choices to fast food or take-out.

Decisions, decisions. I was surrounded by choices, from burgers to burritos and everything in between. But I immediately knew where I wanted to go.

PIADA. A restaurant much like Chipotle or even Subway, you get to order a base meal and walk down the counter, adding whatever you'd like to make it your own. But this is no Subway, that's for sure! PIADA is an Italian eatery, and the word "piada" represents the Italian version of a wrap. There are three main ways to eat at this place- salad, pasta, or piada. But what you put in any of those three is up to you.

I have been there three times now, and have yet to be anything but truly satisfied. The ingredients are marvelous, and the customer service is great. I ordered a Tuscan Chicken salad: Beautiful greens with lighty fried chicken pieces, chopped cucumber and tomatoes, pancetta, fried onions, and a spicy dressing to top it off. Add a piece of garlic-cheese bread on the side and I'm in palatial heaven for less than $7. This meal was way more worth the calories than any "#2" meal could ever hope to be.

Today's pic celebrates that fast food doesn't have to be hamburgers and french fries. Good food doesn't have to be anything more than simple food served by nice people. Yum!

Day 101

In 7th grade, I decided to try out for the volleyball team. I never looked back. I spent the next 6 summers and falls in a hot, steamy gym, learning to use my height to my advantage at the net and forming bonds with girls that lasted well beyond my school years. It was my greatest love and passion throughout all of the extra-curricular activites that I participated in.

My teenage years consisted of throwing myself into anything and everything I could- sports, music, art, speech and debate- you name it, I probably tried it. The result was that although I always gave 100% at whatever I did, I was good at many things, but not really great at anything. And that's ok, because I experienced a whole lot at a young age and got to know a whole lot of people.

Volleyball was no exception. I worked my ass off, but never mastered the sport. Yes, I was above average- but there were defiantely no scholarships coming my way. So, I played club in college, and started going to open gyms at Ohio State. That's where I got a whole lot better, because I was one of the few women that came on a regular basis and therefore had to hold my own against men who had no problem spiking a ball into a woman's face...

I wound up playing in a couple coed tournaments with a few guys I got to know in college, and even spent a summer being a referee at a sand volleyball club. But past my twenties, I can't say I really ever got back to my childhood sport.

Until a few years ago, that is. A friend of mine asked if I'd be interested in subbing on his sand volleyball team for a couple of weeks. Ironically, it was at the same place I had spent that one summer refereeing many years ago. I must not have done half-bad, because they began to consistently ask me to sub when they had a need, and I was always more than willing to help out.

Last year, we decided to form our own team, consisting of parents from our kids' football team. I convinced my husband to play as well, and so we now spend our Friday nights with sand, beer, and volleyballs.

I love it. I love having something social to do every week with my husband. I love being part of a team. I love getting out there and playing my beloved sport again. And it doesn't hurt that they serve beer...

Today's pic celebrates friendship, fun, and actually having something on my social calendar weekly that doesn't involve driving a kid to some kind of practice or event. We won all three of our games on opening night tonight- definately a positive way to end the day!!

Day 100

Wow. 100 days of entries. This time last year, I didn't really even understand what a blog was. Now, it's simply a part of what I do every day. Some days I admit I struggle to find something to write about, but that almost makes it more worthwhile- because it is usually those days that I really need to end on a positive note.

Today was not one of those days. In fact, I  actually had to choose between a couple of things that I wanted to share- which in itself is a blessing.

I had a meeting downtown today. I don't hate going downtown, but it definately is not my favorite place. It's crowded, loud,  and there's more cement than nature. I was frustrated when I got there because the parking garage was amost filled to capacity, meaning it took me forever to find a parking space and I had to park on the upper-most level. Add to this that I had not correctly calculated the fact that traffic downtown at lunchtime is crazy I and was therefore running a few minutes late....frustrating.

The meeting was productive and worthwhile though, and ended a little earlier than anticipated, meaning I had an extra hour than usual on a sunny afternoon. Trudging through the (OMG CRAZY) wind, I found my way back to the cement parking garage and got on the elevator to go up all the way to the top level.

I got on the elevator after an older gentleman who was moving slowly and wore oxygen in his nose. I leaned over and pressed the button for my floor. "You're up high, huh?", he asked. "Yeah", I replied, trying not to let my annoyance at having to park so far up show through. "I would have pushed the button for you, honey". He smiled kindly at me as he got off on the second floor.

The doors closed, and opened again on the fourth floor. A young woman got on. Slumped in my corner, I didn't say anything. She smiled at me and asked, "Are you getting off?"

"No, not until the top floor", I reply- again masking my annoyance.

Her smile broadens- "No, I meant are you getting off work now?"

"Oh... Yes, actually".

"Well, isn't that nice for you. Enjoy this weather!"

The door opens on my floor- the sixth and top floor. She doesn't get out- she is actually going back down to the ground floor. INTO the hospital....

I walked out of the elevator and noticed immediately that there are less cars here than when I first arrived. This afforded me an instant birds eye view of the city and beyond. I slowly walked over to the rail and looked out over the land, amazed at how nature and mankind have worked together to form patterns and shapes and, well... beauty.

Now, I am admittedly not much of a religious person. But if there is someone or something out there, he/she/it was definately teaching me a lesson. Here I was, boo-hooing and being grumpy about having to come into the city and park so high. And what did that get me?

Kindness from two strangers- one obviously ill and the other venturing into a cement building usually filled with more sadness than happiness. And a view that allowed me to see the city as something beautiful, not just loud, dirty, and full of cement.

"Yeah, yeah", I muttered, casting a sheepish look upward. "I get it... Reset button hit- message received."

Day 99

I have been able to workout for two days in a row, which is both a treat and torture for me. 

One hour and three minutes after I sat upon the bicycle seat, my toes were numb. Kind of like when you sit on the toilet too long. 

But at some point thru my 63 minutes of hell, I realized I am stronger. The months of slow but steady workouts have allowed me to push the pedals harder and faster than in the past. I am the tortoise, plugging along with the solid faith that I will reach my goal. 

So today's pic celebrates perseverance, and seeing results from it. Because after that 63 minutes I felt great. Except for my hoo-hah, of course. It may be days before that feels normal again...

Day 98

It's a carrot. I think...

Sitting at my desk today, munching on my lunch of carrots and hummus, I pulled out this piece of nature. My first reaction was not positive, I will admit. Kind of like, "Ew, what's wrong with this carrot? It's not normal". 

But then I stopped myself. There was nothing "wrong" with this carrot- It was just different. It was still orange. It was still going to taste like a carrot. And as I turned the carrot around and around in my hand, I began to smile. 

Hold it one way, it looks like a tree stump with a couple of stubby branches. Turn it another way, it looks like an alligator with it's mouth open. And turn it yet once more- it looks like a cowboy boot. What started as a negative impulse turned into me playing with my lunch at my desk.

So the carrot re-taught me an age-old lesson today. Don't judge a book by it's cover. Just because something or someone looks different doesn't mean there's anything "wrong". In fact, if you stop and take the time to get to know this thing or person- you may discover that "wrong" is really "unique", and well worth your time. 

Day 97

Babies, babies everywhere!

I know I just posted an ultrasound pic the other day, but this one is even more near and dear to me and was the highlight of my day. While fighting the Angel of Death at work today, I got a pic of new life on my phone.

The first look at my grandbaby- or "Baby G" as I have been calling her/him in my head. Not even 8 weeks old and already you can see the shape of a human. It's amazing!

I remember the first time I had an ultrasound. When you are only a few weeks along, pregnancy still seems a little surreal. I remember asking my OB if he was sure I was pregnant, because I just didn't feel all that different yet. But the first time I heard that heartbeat, it all suddenly got VERY real. There was something alive inside of me. Holy shit.

I also know that not everyone gets the opportunity to have that moment, and it deeply saddens me. I wish it wasn't so, and hope that anyone who reads my blog and has suffered infertility or loss knows that I mean no harm or pain. 

Instead, my goal today is to spread joy and thankfulness that Baby G is almost 8 weeks old and healthy. 32 weeks and counting!

Day 96

Almost every parent has struggled at one point or another to get their kid(s) to eat healthier. Some kids were born picky, some have stages of wanting to eat only certain foods, and some just have better things to do than eat at all. 

That's when we revert to being sneaky. We've all done it. My mom used to shred carrots up and mix them in with the ground beef she made hamburgers with. We make popsicles out of fruit juice, to get more fruit in their system. We let them dip vegetables in whatever condiment they want, hoping to finish the day somewhere toward the top of the food pyramid.

My sneaky trick? Banana ice cream. I've got the 10-year old convinced it's the best dessert ever. Little does he know that its actually healthy. i couldn't get him to eat a plain banana if I tried- I think its a texture thing. But each bowl of my banana ice cream has a whole banana in it- ha!

We've switched from regular fries to sweet potato fries, and I make scrambled eggs 50/50 with eggwhites and regular eggs. But my favorite remains this sweet sundae that makes you feel less guilty for having dessert. How do you sneak stuff into your kids bellies? i'm always looking for something new!

Here's the recipe if your'e interested. This makes 2 servings- i cut in half on evenings i want a bowl of my own:

Put a scopp of protein powder and 1/2 cup milk in a blender, then blend for 15 seconds. I use chocolate-flavored casein powder and unsweetened almond milk. Casein is a "dessert" protein powder made to have at night because it is long acting, but any kind of powder is fine really. Any kind of milk works just fine as well.

Add 2 frozen bananas and blend until consistency of soft-serve ice cream. I break the bananas in chunks and smush them in ziplock baggies before I freeze them- that makes them much easier to blend. 

If you'd like, you can add toppings- fresh strawberries, cool whip, a few chocolate chips, sugar-free chocolate syrup, a cherry, or any combination of the above. Then just sit back and watch your kid gobble up goodness :). Enjoy!

Day 95

My cousin announced today that she is having a girl. This is very exciting news- not only because babies in general are exciting, but because girls are definitely not the dominating gender on our side of the family.

My grandparents had 7 children- 5 boys straight with 2 girls at the end. I cannot imagine a household with 5 boys in it! All 7 children had their own children as adults, and again the boys far outnumber the girls in ratio. 

So I am happy to hear my cousin is being blessed with a female addition to the clan. And thankful for the internet which allows me to "see" my new cousin's ultrasound. I am going to be a new cousin AND a new grandma this year -Bring on the pink!

Day 94

I am a firm believer that you should always be open to learning new things. Sometimes that's something pertinent to the job you do and/or the everyday life you live- and sometimes it's something random.

This week, I learned about chickens.

And as silly as it may sound, I have been super-excited by what I have learned. I can't believe I have gone so long in life without having a clue as to how something as simple as an egg makes it to my breakfast table.

One of the women I work with has chickens and brought in a video on her IPAD of her baby chicks hatching. Although she has had chickens for ahwile, ths is the first time she has actually hatched her own. Curious, I started to ask questions about the process of raising and hatching chickens-and discovered how little I actually knew.

I learned that chickens lay an egg approximately every 25 hours. That part alone astonished me because she only has one rooster....so she then informed me that chickens don't need roosters in order to lay an egg.

What?!

Yup. Chickens lay an egg every 25 hours, just like us women shoot an egg out of our ovaries every 25-31 days. Their eggs just happen to have shells around them and ours don't.

Well. No wonder they seem grouchy and are always pecking at stuff. The poor things are in perpetual PMS!!

Secondly, all of the eggs we buy at grocery stores are "nonfertilized". Which means they came from a farm where there are no roosters- just chickens. Therefore, you will not find any baby chickens inside the eggs you buy from the store. Whew. So now those of you who didn't know that can stop cracking your eggs with only one eye open...

If you do have a rooster and want to try hatching eggs, there really isn't a good way to tell if an egg has been produced out of purely hormones or Rooster Romance, at least at first. You just have to put a bunch of them in a box and wait, crossing your fingers that you haven't wasted a couple days worth of omelettes or quiche. After a while, you can do a "candle test", by holding the egg up to a flashlight and looking for a sillouhette of a baby chick inside.

So, now I know something that I didn't last week. And to top it all off, today I got to bring home a dozen brown, organic eggs that cost me $1 less than what they are at the grocery and will last a month since they are fresh. I can barely wait for breakfast tomorrow!

Today's pic salutes lifelong learning and the chicken- a bird that doesn't get the respect it deserves! I will never complain about the disocmfort of ovulating once a month again..

Day 93

Today is my mother's birthday. I won't say which birthday, exactly , because that karma would eventually circle back to me. But no matter the year, a celebration was in order. What kind of celebration?

Why, a Happy Birthday Happy Hour of course.

In all honesty, I don't think she planned for it to turn into a mix of beer and cake. She invited some of her old work friends over to her house for drinks, but of course didn't mention that it was her birthday. Then,  I showed up with cake. My parents have a full-blown, beautiful bar that they built themselves last fall, and it's perfect to sit and talk while drinking a couple of beers. We had wings, chips and salsa, veggies, craft beer, and chocolate cake with buttercream icing. Best. Happy Hour. Ever, right?

Happy Birthday Mom. I love that I can drive two streets over from my house and have a beer with you. Not everyone has that luxury- in proximity or relationship status. You don't look or act your age- two attributes that I sure hope are genetic!

Day 92

My husband told me a story this evening about how some scientists found a cave recently deep in the ocean. They pumped all of the water out of the cave so that they could study the inside. It was about 150 degrees in there ( close to the lava core of the earth I guess!), so they had to wear special suits and couldn't stay inside very long.

What they discovered were enormous crystals everywhere, taller than the average human. One of the first things they did was drill into the crystal to determine how old it was.

It was 500 million years old.

Holy. Cow. 

The Earth is freaking ancient. It's almost surreal really- I mean, can you even begin to imagine what it was like back then? When I think of old I imagine Little House on the Prarie or ancient Egypt. And in reality the time from then till now is just a drop in the bucket!

I have always found nature to be amazing- plants and animals, weather, geology, or even the ocean. I mean, who hasn't stood on a beach at some point of your life and just been overwhelmed by the sheer size and power of it!

I found a tiny example of a natural wonder today. Poking through the gloomy drizzle, my first bulb has bloomed. Upon closer examination, I was struck by the intricacy of detail on this one flower- more beautiful than anything man made, that's for sure.

Today's pic represents the majesty of our planet and it's natural wonders- whether it's a cave full of 500 million year-old crystals or a flower blooming for the very first time.

Day 91

It is not unusual for me to come home from work and find a piece or part of my home has been uprooted. We bought our  house knowing we would change just about everything, and have slowly but surely been doing just that.

My husband's specialty is demolition. He just loves to rip stuff up and out. I can't tell you how many times I have come home over the last 15 years and been suprised to find  a toilet, sink, or part of a wall now sitting in my garage with corresponding holes in the floor or wall of one or more rooms in the house.

Today's suprise was that my front sidewalk was torn up. We had talked about redoing it and, well, it was nice outside so...

As I walked by the demolition area on my way into the house, I was hit by the contrast between the torn up concrete and my bulbs that are trying to sprout and bloom. I just planted them last fall, so they are tender yet and I can tell that he took care not to bother them.

Life and death- new, baby flowers and long lasting concrete that has been torn apart and will be discarded. How closely these two can live together. I have been caring for dying patients before when the music plays overhead at the hospital to signify a baby being born. Life and death are not as far apArt from each other as we may think. Especially for toilets and sinks if you live with my husband.

Today's pic celebrates the circle of life. Moving that old concrete will allow for something new and beautiful to be planted and enjoyed by others. And the spring bulbs offer hope and wonder at new life. Happy April!