Just Keep Swimming

I wish I had something...anything...interesting to report, but I don't!  I just keep swimming, or treading water as they say.  I'm praying for cooler temperatures to grace our area, but we are still in the mid 90s to nearly 100 heat index.  I'm sick of my clothes, sick of my makeup sliding off my face, sick of sweating when I walk to the mailbox!

So my simple outfit posts seem boring to me lately.  What I wouldn't do to wear a sweater or my boots.  But since dying of heat exhaustion is not on my to-do list, I'll skip it for now.

My mom made those earrings!

This is such a sweet dress from Avenue, which I bought in 2009.  Unfortunately, every time I wear it, someone "congratulates" me on being pregnant.  So I generally only wear it in the house.  But I hadn't done laundry in nearly two weeks (still haven't actually) and so I wore this.  And almost right away, got a pregnancy comment.  Saving this for maternity wear or inside-the-house wear.

Still getting used to this new hair.

My double chin and I say hello!

Digging My Hole

I will never, ever complain about going back to school to get my degree.  But now student loan payments are upon me, and I still have the same job I did before.  Am I grateful to have a job?  Yes.  Am I blessed to have one which allows me to work from home?  YES!!  Am I still wanting to do something new?  Sigh...yes.

I've applied for many jobs at the hospital.  Either I've been turned down before I even get to interview, the position closed, or I decided the hours were not beneficial for my family.  I guess I've been spoiled by working from home for so long.  While I don't mind going in for department meetings and seeing everyone now and then, I have no desire to drive in 5 days a week and waste $75 on fuel weekly for the pleasure of wearing real clothes in front of actual people.  No, I think working from home is pretty much it for me.  Plus, we are having this reversal in January; I could be a new mama by the end of 2012!  I don't want to put a baby in daycare.

I've been thinking about becoming a medical transcriptionist in addition to coding.  Another work at home job for the most part, and hopefully won't take me very long to do.  I haven't even researched how much it costs or where I can go to take classes; all I know is, I am extremely burnt out in the position I have now.  One of my coworkers called in sick today and I burst into tears, knowing that I was going to fall behind in my own work so I could cover for her.  And when I can actually feel my blood pressure rise every time I hear my email "ding" at me, I'm thinking the game is up and I need to move on.  However, I can't just walk away; I have three kiddos depending on me, plus I cover medical insurance for the family.  I'm trying to be practical.

I have a few good things going for me, as far as transcription goes.  One, I'm a very fast typist...between 85-95 correct words per minute.  Two, I'm an excellent speller.  Three, I know medical terminology already. 

What it boils down to is, I'm trying to make good choices for my family, present and future.  I like being home.  I love not driving to work when it's raining.  I love drinking my coffee and going for my run/walk/wobbles in the morning.  I love doing laundry in the middle of the day instead of having to wait until the weekend to do it all.  Now, I don't mind going in to train at a location, but my ultimate goal is to be at home.  I feel this is where I belong!

Buckety Moments

Heard out of the mouth of my sweet son just this morning:

1)  "Mom, if you got shot in the butt, you'd live."  (My thoughts:  "Awesome.  I'll make sure to rob that bank backwards using the eyes in the back of my head.")

2) I said, "Good-bye, I love you!"  Bucket: no response.  I said, "I SAID, GOOD-BYE AND I LOVE YOU!"  His response:  "I said good-bye to you in my head.  All good moms can read minds."  (My thoughts: "Dang it.  There goes my good mom award.")

Coffee With Cream

Wow, have I been busy lately!  I just realized it's Tuesday night, and I'm just now realizing that I never put my Sunday post up.  Guess I'm getting old!

I call this my "coffee with cream" dress.  It is a Maggy London, size 18, which I scored on eBay for a mere $20.  (I know...what a deal!)  The pattern is LOUD so I wear it with nude or white details.  That's my pookah shell necklace which my friend Carmella bought me in Hawaii, and I'm wearing my cheapie nude Target flats which I bought two years ago for $6.88.  I don't wear this dress very often, and every time I put it on, I can't remember why.  This dress makes me feel FABULOUS.

Yet, these pictures don't make me feel happy.  Despite the new hair, I was having difficulty styling it this particular morning.  I know most women really love having straight hair, but I like mine to be wavy/curly.  I feel like a school marm with straight hair.  Also, I need to find a new location for pictures.  Who wants to see my laundry room?

Pretend there is not a messy kitchen behind me, please.

Work has been busy.  Kids are keeping me busy.  Missy got a new kitten; I know, I must be insane.  Her kitty Jack died last year and I resisted getting this girl a new kitty, but she prevailed and now she is in her room playing with this kitty.  She is a 9 week old kitten which she got from a guy friend at school.  He had named the kitten Brownie, but Missy didn't like that name.  So Missy renamed her Nutmeg (had to keep the foodie name, for the aspiring chef.)  I am back to my Couch to 5K, and not doing very well.  But hey, everyone has to start somewhere, right?  I am down with it.  I'm not sure I will ever like running, but it's great exercise.

Feeling like I'm having a better hair day on this day.  This was Saturday; I wore this to a baby shower.

why.so.serious?

Yaaaaay, I'm happy and I got to shop for baby clothes!

So how are you guys lately?  I haven't heard much from the blogosphere lately.  Hope everyone is happy and healthy!

Ten Years Already? Also: My New Hair

I've seen the question asked all over facebook...where were you ten years ago on September 11 at 8:46am?  I was at the hospital, working, when I heard a girl crying in the hallway.  Since I didn't have much patient contact, I knew it was a coworker.  I got up to see if she was ok, and instead found her, and my other coworkers, glued to the TV, watching the carnage.  At least half of us were native New Yorkers (you'll find most people who live in Florida seem to be from up north.)  We all held on to each other and stared.  We cried.  We prayed.  We were angry.  I'm not sure any of that has changed.  I still cry when I see the footage, and still get mad when I think about how anyone...and I don't care who it was....would kill innocent people.

Surprisingly, didn't cry during the service today.  It was tasteful and made me think about the past, but not to the point where I was choking.  I cried so many tears over 9/11.  I couldn't walk away from the TV for weeks.  Thinking about 9/11 makes me sad, but makes me proud to be an American. 

On to other things?

I got a hair cut nine days ago.  Normally I'd have taken a picture, but I had the most awful pimple on my chin last week.  In fact, you can still see it, but it is now at the lovely crusty stage.  Plus I was having a good hair day today and another new dress to present.  So pictures had to be taken!

This WAS a maxi dress.  A maxi dress intended for someone about four inches taller than me.  But for $6.88, who cares?  I bought two...this gorgeous royal blue color, and a great amethyst purple.  The purple one, I am thinking about turning that into two separate pieces, a nice top and a long skirt.  Tank top, Target.  Pewter Shoes, Avenue.  Silver earrings, Goodwill.  Silver cross, present from my Mommy.

Bucket is not the best photographer, but Missy spent the night with a friend, and Tiger was in the bathroom.

Despite the smeary glass, I like this shot!

Dear Lord, thank you for large beautiful blue eyes which can still see clearly for the most part. 

Need a new pedi.  It's a sweet darker red color.  Me and my red, lol.

I took this picture myself, and was pleased at how it came out. 

Shorter hair, but not shaved or pixie close.  I can still put it in a very small ponytail.  Honestly, I think I would have liked it shorter, but Mr. R really likes the extra length. 

Happy smile because I have happy hair and a pretty blue dress to wear!

The hair cut is great.  I think what made the difference is that I did a treatment where they put this stuff in my hair and it's supposed to be a cheaper version of Keratin.  It smooths you out for 30 shampoos.  Plus she cut layers into my hair, which gives my hair a bit of curl and wave.  I just love the way it looks.  Plus the side bangs are long enough to pull to the side with a barrette.  I also bought a leave in conditioner which is making such a difference.  I love my hair; it's thickness, it's texture, but in this humidity it gets wild.  I love it so much more now that it's a bit more controlled.

What is your favorite scent?  Despite not being a fan of the Black Eyed Peas or Fergie, I'm totally loving this scent which is available through Avon!  Both Missy and I own it.  I even have the lotion for my very dry legs.  It's not super expensive either.  Do you stick with one fragrance, or do you use a few?  I'm new to the perfume thing.  My favorite scent for a long time was Heavenly by Victoria Secret, and I still love it.  I'm just now trying new scents.  What is your favorite?

He all of a sudden wears this tie everywhere.  A clip on tie stuck to a tee shirt.  I don't even know what to say.  But I had to take a picture.

I'm free.  Are you?

LOOK AT THIS.  Tiger's hand is bigger than mine!  What happened to my baby?!?

Drums For Sale

Mr. R is wanting to sell his drums.  Yes, I'm in shock.

There's a lot of pieces.  He knows what they are.  I do not.

Those make cool noises.

All kids love those.

Comes with pedals.

Three pedals, to be exact.

I don't even know what that is.  And pardon the white powder on the floor; it's carpet powder.  

Anyway, for anyone in the general Central Florida area!  If you'd like to purchase these, Mr. R is selling them for $3500.  Churches, bands, schools...he's willing to make deals.  If you want to discuss, leave me a comment and I will chat with you about it.

Vicious Guard Dog

Yo.  I will TEAR YOU UP.  Oooh, is that a biscuit?  It is SOOOO nice to meet you!  I'm Roscoe!

I Am Laboring on Labor Day

And I am NOT happy about it.

Mr. R left for a trip to NC, and on Thursday, he went to his friends house.  This friend didn't tell us, until of course Mr. R got there, that he had a major flea infestation.  And guess who decided to travel home with Mr. R?  FLEAS.  So guess what I'm doing on my first flipping day off in two months?  WASHING COPIOUS AMOUNTS OF LAUNDRY, SPRAYING MY HOUSE INTO OBLIVION, AND CURSING UNDER MY BREATH.

Also decided to clean out the area where Roscoe's crate used to live.  It was, to put it mildly, disgusting.  I know the dog had bladder issues...but he was apparently peeing in the back of the crate, where it was running out and settling on the wall.  I knew the crate stank, but I would mop it out without moving it (it's kind of heavy and bulky) so I had no idea that there was pee just sitting on the wall and ledge.  So now that the crate is outside, there was this line of yellow matted dog fur pasted on the wall.  And I got to scrape it off the wall, lucky me.  It smelled so bad I gagged as I was scraping.  I did get it all off, but the wall is stained.  I steam mopped it, dried it, then started spackling the areas which where chipped.  I'm going to sand those later, re-spackle, sand again, and then paint it sometime this week.  Roscoe's crate is right next to our fireplace, and it's actually not on the floor.  There is a step up and it's actually a built in entertainment center.  We don't use it as such, since our TV is way larger than the opening is built.  This is what it looked like before Roscoe passed away...sorry for the odd angle, but I didn't take a before shot today, wasn't thinking about it.

The fireplace is behind the very large sofa.  See where Roscoe's crate is?  Well, we're going to paint it the same dark brown color as the rest of the trim work.  Then we're going to put shelves in there.  I'm very much looking forward to it.  One thing this house lacks is STORAGE.  I must own 6 bookcase and they're all full.  And not just with books...crafts, art supplies, office supplies, school supplies, sewing machine, games, puzzles...there is not a single coat or linen closet in this house and it drives me crazy!

I will share the end result when I'm done...hopefully by next weekend!