Cheddar? Brie? Gouda?

So one weekend day a month, I am scheduled to work inpatient. I work at a local hospital's outpatient physical therapy clinic, and LOVE the *outpatient* part. But, thanks in part to us being a "community hospital"----AKA, no one wants to work here, so you'll have to pull double duty----tomorrow is my day of scrubs, the smell of people who haven't had regular baths, and mostly cranky people who do not want to stay awake, let alone practice getting out of bed/walking/exercise just for me. I HATE IT. I would rather work a whole weekend of outpatient versus one day of inpatient work. I know, wah, wah, wah.....here's a little cheese to go with that whine....see post below.

Nevertheless, I am a planner. So I planned today off to "prepare" myself for the misery that tomorrow brings, and what happens? I am sick. I slept for 11 hours. I roll out of bed (not before taking my temperature, of course), and instantly fall right back into it from the 100 panoramic views of my bedroom that I experience in a whirl of about 2 seconds. I've been feeling extra crappy all week, but this takes the cake. I'll bet my first child on the likelihood of feeling 100% tomorrow (thus, removing my call-in ability). No, I take that back. No betting anything on my first child. I've put too much emotional effort into that. The one thing that I WILL bet on is that even if I feel crappy tomorrow, I will still go in to work. 'Cause I'm putting off the inevitable if I don't...

On another note, I still need to go out and pick up a few things for the Super Bowl party we're hosting on Sunday. Yeah, the party that my dear sweetie "forgot" to tell me about until Tuesday. I hope they like cheese and whine.

Lots to Say, no energy to say it.

The only thing better than chocolate? Wine. And they're even better together.

Sorry, it's all mine.

Another Disappointing Cycle

FYI: I'm using this blog not only as a life outlet, but a trying-to-make-a-baby-frustration outlet. So if you're not too interested in the latter, including information about ovulation, temperature rises and falls, negative pregnancy tests, or anything hereto related, buzz off. Otherwise:

My chart was beautiful this cycle. Day 13 ovulation followed by a slow temperature rise with a little dip in the middle....the makings of a possible BFP (big fat positive) HPT (home pregnancy test). That is, until I got to 15, 16, 17, 18 days past ovulation (dpo)---(I really should add a legend to the side of this blog for abbreviations) and negative, negative, negative. All signs pointed to a later ovulation day than I thought.....We're talking a week later....now I'm 12 dpo (what I think was O day based on re-evaluation of my temps and signs)....and I'm waiting for AF. I feel her making her angry descent upon my uterus.

I think I may take a break from this insanity next month. We're headed to Vegas in 2 weeks for a professional conference/mini vacation/family visit. I don't want to have to worry about my temps, about my temps being wrong from all the drinking, about not enjoying Vegas for all it's worth. Who knows, it could be our last Vegas trip sans baby (in or out of the womb)....or at least I hope it is.

Happy Birthday Elijah!

I won't tell you how old he is, but I will tell you he is a wonderful friend of mine from jr high/high school/college. We have a lot of similarities....our families have f----d up dynamics, we are both ambitious and self-driven.... We rode the same school bus for a while, went to the same church...but I never really KNEW him. Years later, we've both realized how much we could have leaned on each other during the roughest times of our adolescence.

So Elijah, dear, I hope you enjoyed your day, and I am elated that you are one of my closest friends. When you're blowing out your birthday candles tonight, don't forget to make a wish! (And have a big, fat piece of cake for me, mmm k?)

Need suggestions!

I have wanted a digital SLR camera for a while now, and knowing that they're not cheap, I want to be confident in my choice once I get one. So I need suggestions from anyone willing to rate/review theirs! Come on, come on! I will beg, so don't hold back!

Windy City

I'm from Texas, so I KNOW what wind is like...right? After we moved here almost 4 years ago, I thought I was through with wind storms. More rain, yes. Windy? No! Here we are on our THIRD day of sustained winds at 30 mph or greater, with gusts up to 75 mph. Did I mention the skies are blue, the sun is shining (rare for this time of year), and I don't want to go outside to get the paper, let alone walk the dog because I'm afraid I'll lose my shirt!

Luckily, we've only lost a few shingles. Our trees are still rooted, yet we drove around town only to see downed trees and power lines everywhere. A truck got smashed in by a giant tree...all 3 people luckily survived!

I woke up in the middle of the night, only to realize our power was off. I didn't get up to see what time it was, but by the time I got up at 8, the digital clock was flashing at 2:30. So the power came back on around 5 am....Thank goodness, because I can't live without all of my HDTV/Food channel weekend shows!

What a crazy world we live in...

Tonight G and I went to the gym, and when we walked in, there was a young woman shrieking in pain, with a towel wrapped around one of her forearms. A gym employee was assisting her, but we couldn't tell what was going on. So, I headed to the upper cardio deck to start my usual elliptical workout when I see the flashing lights of an ambulance through the windows. It was there for the entire 30 minutes I was on the machine. G then came up and told me that one of his former patients was there working out, and witnessed this woman come in, yelling that someone just assaulted her outside and stabbed her repeatedly in the arm! I couldn't believe it! So for those of you out there reading this, be careful. It could happen to you!

No, really, I am good. Trust me.

I'm not feeling so poetic lately. I get a little down at this time every year....the holidays have passed in a blur, I'm carrying 5-6 more pounds around my waist and hips than I did a month ago, and I don't get to look forward to another work holiday until Memorial Day! :(

My sweetie, today, is driving a friend 3 hours to Newport to buy a car. Long story, but the guy got ripped of by a car consignment lot (2 cars, 1 Harley, no money), his wife, in her late forties, has Multiple Sclerosis and is now living in an assisted living center for seniors, and they lost their house because he couldn't support the mortgage with his pay alone. He has no car and is relying on friends like us to drive him around. He's getting a car from Newport because he has another friend who runs a car lot. This guy is a reputable guy, a medical professional, and is living his worst nightmare.

All that complaining I did at the start of this post? I take it back. I don't have to be in a Thansgiving state of mind to be grateful for the blessings I have. Those 5-6 pounds should be gone by the end of the month, if I'm good!

Pictures from the past

With the help of my Aunt Carol (my mom's sister), I recently had the pleasure of reuniting with my Uncle Steve...my mother's younger brother. He lived with us for a short period of time when I was younger, then moved to Arizona (where my mom was from) and took care of my grandparents. He was kind enough to send me some pictures of relatives I never got to know, some still living, some that have passed away. The one I love is actually of my family (not pictured are my father and my yet unborn brother Shawn):

That's my Uncle Steve, my half sister Brenda, my brother Shane, Mom, me, half sister Donna, and my brother Shad. I was probably 5 in this picture. Too bad I can't get away with hot pants like that now!

Love ya Aunt Carol and Uncle Steve!

Waiting for the Abominable Snowman....

There is a pseudo- "blizzard" rushing through the Portland area right now. It's probably the closest thing to a blizzard we will ever see around here. I am perfectly happy staying in my PJs all day long, sipping a warm chai latte, surfing the net, catching up on my DVR programs, and being plain-ass lazy. :) Meanwhile, from the time we got up at 7:30 this morning until noon, Glen was very antsy...he ended up shoveling the walkway, chopping wood, and anything else to keep himself busy. We are polar opposites when it comes to this! So around 1:00, he drove over to his sister's boyfriend's house to, of all things, play Rock Band. It's now 5:30, and we've gained probably 4 inches of snow since he left! I hope he can get home safely.

On baby-making news, nothing to report, except I am at cycle day 29 with no signs of ovulation. :( My average ov day is day 16, so obviously, I am very behind! I am learning a lot about my own body, so that is the best part about the temping/charting/testing. For several months, I have questioned myself as to whether I really want to have a baby now, or if I just like the idea of having a baby. I cried when I tested negative last month. I guess I'm ready!

We just found out that good friends of ours in California who had a very difficult time getting pregnant the first time (and were successful in 2006!) have just found out they are pregnant again! We are so happy for them. If anything, I have learned from several friends not to worry too much...patience, though difficult, actually is a virtue!

I'm in the middle of my 7th week (4th set) of invisalign braces...they are better than I thought they would be! I am starting to notice my top teeth getting straighter and my bottoms feel less crowded when I floss. This is cool.