Welcome to Jennifer's Blog

Just so you know, only crazy people, like myself, stand outside starting at 3:30 when doors don't open until 6:30. Oh yes--between all the texting I did to DJ and Nancy, my fingers were numb by the time I got in the door. I normally rely on DJ to entertain me while we are in line, so I didn't let him off the hook just because he wasn't physically there.

The first person I saw after entering the church was Doug. He looked refreshed and ready to get b...

It's SO hot outside!  So hot in fact, that the neighborhood cats are flocking to take drinks from the pool--they didn't get the memo about the pool being retired.  Now, in addition to the 3 animals I have, there are 2 cats (one scared and one brave) that frequent my porch in hopes of finding a vittle or two. 

Shame on me, I fed t...

The nights I am scheduled to work always have perfect weather--sunny, nice breeze, bearable humidity levels, etc...

The nights I am off--scattered showers, severe thunderstorms, tornadoes all over the place, flash flood warnings, humidity so thick that you could suffocate without supplemental oxygen, etc...

God didn't promise days without pain, laughter without sorrow, sun without rain, but He did promise strength for the day, comfort for the tears, and light for the way.

I found the quote above on an old bookmark I had stashed away in an old Bible.  Those words are so true--we aren't promised tha...

Those of you closest to me know that I have a rare talent, I can kill artificial plants! It's not an easy trade to learn, but if you follow my teachings, you can kill them too!  I know, people everywhere are jealous, but in all seriousness...look what I have done! 

Who would have ever thought I could do "garden ...

Yea, so after about 3-5 years of swimming pool disasters (burned up pumps, holes in the liner, leaks under the foundation, etc...) we finally decided that it wasn't worth the time and money (and headache) to keep up.  What do you do with a pool when you want to get rid of it???  Knock it out and fill in the hole with more deck!  I guess we should stain the wood to match huh?  Now all I need is a good porch swing

There have been a couple of things going on during the past 2 weeks that really make me smile...here they are!

Rocking chairs at Cracker Barrell

A few nights ago I had a patient that didn't really need to be in ICU.  He was a very pleasant little guy, in his 60's, and bored to death laying in the bed all day.  As I went in to assess him, he was flipping through the few channels on TV frantically searching for something decent to watch.  He saw an advertisement for a Homecoming special and he got really excited, "Oh yes, the Gaither's are coming on!"  Sorry sir, it's just a preview.

That opened up the door ...

Gosh, it's 2009 already!  I have been so neglectful towards my blog site these past few months.  Work is taking up a lot of my time...big surprise huh?  Then of course there is the Thanksgiving/Christmas/New Years chaos that is bound to surface every year.  Thanksgiving was good-spent it with my boyfriend, Christmas was good-broke up with the boyfriend, New Year's was just another night at work...

Hopefully in the coming weeks I will have tons to post about. ...

Why is it that when you go in a store for 2 items you come out with 6 bags of stuff?

Why do you realize you need a buggy when you have reached the BACK of the store?

Why do people pull out in front of you when no one is behind you?

Why does it rain when you forget your umbrella?

Why do you need 2 pennies AFTER you have cleaned out the cup holder in your car?

Why do all these things happen on the same day??

....Well, I don't know either!
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Contrary to popular belief, it IS possible to reset your internal clock--just start working night shift...you have no other option but to reset that clock!  Day 3, well...night 3 of night shift orientation ended early yesterday morning at 7 am.  Staying up all night is not the problem--I am loving night shift! The problem is driving an hour back home and keeping my eyes open!  A blaring radio and an open window are of no help to the cause either.  What does one do to stay ...

With October knocking at our door, I wait with great anticipation for the leaves to turn colors.  It's already getting a little cool at night, which I love.  Do you ever walk outside and think, "Ah, smells like fall?"  I do.  A couple of days ago I walked outside early in the morning to let the puppies out to potty.  They ran and played in the freshly cut grass and a gentle breeze passed by--smelled like fall!  I love that smell.  It's a cool, fresh, woodsy ...

It was only a little over 2 months ago that we increased our family by 2--puppies that is.  Cooper weighed 4.5lbs and Chloe was quickly gaining on him at 4lbs.  The last vet visit confirmed what I already knew---they are gaining weight!  Cooper now weighs 7lbs and Chloe is still catching up to him at almost 6 pounds.  I didn't realize just how much Cooper had grown until I looked at some older photos.  He is due for his first haircut next week...that should be interes...

is getting over the loss of a furry companion.  Riley has been very sick for a while now, but knowing it's coming doesn't help the pain.  She went to sleep for the last time on September 13, 2008.  She was such a good dog....and spoiled!  She was the joy of our lives and it still hurts to see her spot on the couch without her in it.  I remember when she was just a little puppy, I remember when she lost her baby teeth, her first haircut, the first bark she ever made, t...

After 3 days of training, I am starting to think that it's gonna take a WHOLE LOT longer than 12 weeks of preceptorship.  I am like the kid that didn't memorize her spelling words in first grade--LOST!  I feel like I radiate some kind of aura that screams, "Please, please, ask ME all those questions, after all, I am the new graduate and I will know EXACTLY what you are talking about."  Someone says, "Hey Jennifer, bring me a bair hugger set."  So what do I do?  I walk...

Yesterday I went to my friend's house to help my brother with his iPod troubles and I came home with a child--yes, Lana and I had a sleep over  She played with the puppies until all 3 of them were totally exhausted, which didn't take long.  I wish I had about half of their energy; those crazy critters cannot be still--and neither can Lana!  As bedtime approached, I popped in my copy of Get Away Jordan, turne...