Wow! I was scolded!

Hmmm...so Tanya decides to scold me for not updating! Goodness, what is this world coming to????? :-p

I have been busy with a lot of fun stuff lately. This post will probably be "brief and to the point" but hopefully it will suffice to satisfy the curious. :-)

Tanya arrives in the states in 2 day! Yippee!!!! I pick her up from the airport around midnight on Monday. Then we have an incredibly packed 40 some days together! :-D I have been working on planning an open house for her on September 2. If you have not gotten the information on it PLEASE email me and I will get you the info! (I tried my best to think of everyone and begged everyone I remembered to add names, but am sure we have missed someone important!!!)

I just cut my finger on some random sharp object...I know you all are worried...but never fear, I think I have the bleeding staunched.

What else...my 2 sisters, Laura and Lynetta, plus Laura's 3 kids came for a visit this week. They were bringing Lynetta back to school in NC, so they were able to stop by here for a visit. Laura and kids are coming back tomorrow for a few more days. We had a good time visiting, seeing things around town and doing the "sister" thing. We found some cool shirts at Mast General Store and had to get "appropriate" ones. :-)

Well, I tried to post a photo, but it is not working right now...

anyway, I have more to post but need to go get ready for work. :-)

Beware of "Julie"!

Okay, time for another post. Let's see...

Kendra and I went for a walk/mild "hike" today at Paris Mountain. I took Shadow and she brought her housemate's dog, Bailey. It was the first time they had met, so the first few minutes were full of "doggie get to know you stuff". But once we started walking they both calmed down and behaved pretty well. We took a nice stroll around Lake Placid, I believe that is the name. Shadow is still afraid of water...gets it from me, I guess. :-) Bailey on the other hand! Well, let's just say that Kendra took Bailey to the edge to get a drink and Bailey decided that it looked too inviting, waded right in and promptly lay down. Ha, ha! It was too funny, we couldn't help but laugh...and attempt to run away when she got out and needed to shake. :-P

One reason we went for the walk was that I am trying to break in my new hiking boots. The Lord provided a way for me to get some Vasque hiking boots at a greatly reduced price, for which I am very grateful. So, I am attempting to wear them just about every day so that they will be comfortably broken in when we go hiking next month.

Speaking of that...Tanya arrives in 10 days! Yippee!!!! I am really looking forward to that! We are still trying to make our plans, but they seem to be coming together.

My two sisters, Laura and Lynetta, are coming for a short visit soon too. I am looking forward to seeing them too. Hopefully we will be able to spend a few days together.

I had to visit the "torturer" yesterday. Usually my dentist appointments are not that bad but yesterday! Whew! Some girl named Julie was the "hygenist"...not sure why she was such a mean person, but you would have thought she was working on some unfeeling, senseless machinery. First, she didn't even really tell me what she was doing. Occasionally she would mutter some comment about "yearly x-rays" and then next thing I know she plops the huge lead apron down on me and walks away. I don't know if I am more sensitive to this stuff b/c I work in healthcare...but TALK TO YOUR PATIENTS!!!! Goodness! Let them know what is going on! So a few minutes later...okay probably only a few seconds...my back is hurting since the apron is not even on straight and is causing me to slide down and bend in half in the chair. Anyway, she eventually comes back in and is wanting me to put some strange contraption thing in my mouth. Well, I decided if she wasn't going to talk to me voluntarily, I would ask her what was going on. Then she tells me that it is time for my yearly x-rays...not sure why, but at least she sorta' told me what she was doing. Well, apparently she is oblivious to any pain she inflicts on me. Now I know my mouth is sensitive, probably one reason I don't particularly enjoy ice cream. Well, after shoving the x-ray thing in my mouth she proceeds to clean my teeth. Yikes! you would have thought she was scraping corrosion off a battery connection...yeah, sorry for the weird analogy, but couldn't think of anything else at the moment. So anyway, I am grimacing in pain, shrinking back in the chair and she is like..."are you okay?". Yes, I am perfectly fine! I normally wear this look when I am enjoying something...okay, so then she stabs me in the gum with one of her varied sharp instruments of cruelty. Naturally my face of agony becomes more agonized. To her credit, she actually stops for a second and wants to know if I am okay. At this point, I am through being "nice" and inform her that she just stabbed me. To which she replies something to the effect of "hmm..must have been the edge of this (holding up the metal weapon). Next she says...and I quote..."I hope it didn't hurt." and proceeds to dive back into her work, muttering "I am just trying to hurry for you." Now, I have a few problems with the last scenario. #1 If someone just appeared in so much pain and agony that you stopped and asked them if they are okay; and if said person informed you that you just stabbed them in a mucus membrane (known for being sensitive) and you agree that a sharp metal object was probably the culprit...WHY would you calmly state "I hope it didn't hurt." ?!?!?! #2 Where did she come up with the idea of "hurrying" for me?!?! I never requested that she hurry. I did not have to be somewhere right away. Earlier when she asked if I had to go into work that afternoon, I told her I didn't have to go in until the night. So why did she think she was doing me a favor by "hurrying"?!?! Apparently she thought the whole matter was funny, because after she finished she asked me how my teeth felt. "Uhm fine, like teeth I guess." was my reply. (What was I supposed to say...well actually maam, my left side 2nd molar itches, can you take care of that for me?) Anyway, she just snortled at my answer and said, "well, I can clean them again for you." To which I politely informed her that was not necessary. So beware of "hygenists" named Julie!

Enough about that. Actually, I can't really think of anything else to post at the moment. I suppose my brain is trying to fall asleep. :-)

Talked to Mom and Brian today. I was hoping to go see Brian and Molly tomorrow...but I guess Brian works most of the day, and Molly is flying in from WI. I hope she doesn't have too much problem with delays and such. She has Andrew too, so maybe they will be more understanding? Who knows? :-D

What I am doing...

Let's see...work is work...I enjoy what I do. I got to work with my friend Kendra last night. That was actually the first time we had ever worked together. It was nice and refreshing to work with another Christian. :-) We even got some rest...only having 2 transports.

I heard back from my job interview with MedTrans. I was not offered the position this time...but was told I had done well. There are a few classes/certifications that really would have helped me. I was already signed up for one...and am looking to find the other one. :-) Maybe next time. :-)



My tomato plant is doing very well...since I manually (okay, with scissors) removed the fat green tomato plant eating worms. NASTY!!! I think about 8 tomatoes ripened all at once...wow! But they are tasty! Much better than the fake ones in the store. :-D



This past weekend I took a Swiftwater rescue class as part of my cross training in technical rescue. While it was not "my cup of tea" I survived fine...and there was some pretty scenery. :-)




I am excited to be expecting company in a few weeks. Laura may bring Lynetta down to ABC and come see me. Then Lynetta may come see me before school starts. Plus Tanya is arriving Aug. 21 for a "holiday". :-) We have packed those 44 days FULL! but should have lots of fun. We are tentatively planning a weekend trip to Williamsburg/D.C. area and then a 3 week road trip out west. This includes a 4 day hike/camp IN the Grand Canyon. We are really excited about that! :-D When we get our plans/itinerary finalized I will let you all know the details. ;-)

Tonight we had a really good sermon at church. After much prayer and thought I have just started visiting Hampton Park Baptist Church. Pastor Conley preached from James 4 tonight, about not committing "adultery" with the world. It was a very good sermon and spoke to my heart.

Next weekend, August 11-13, Holli, Kendra, Stephanie and I plan to attend the Midwest Singles' Conference in Schaumburg, IL. I happened to stumble across the information about it when I was searching something on the internet. It looks like something we have been looking for, so we are going to try it out. I don't personally know all of the speakers, but it promises to be a refreshing time and we are looking forward to it.

Yep, I am still alive. :-)

Well, it has been a very busy few weeks! I really should be sleeping right now, as I worked last night and have to work again tonight...but I feel bad, as I have not updated in forever...

So I will write a quick update and maybe publish more later. :-)

The aeromedical service here in Greenville, MedTrans, was recently hiring. While I did not get the job, I did get an interview this time...which was "farther" than I got last time I applied. :-D I will admit I was disappointed because I did really want the job, but I am confident that the person (a co-worker) who did get the job will do a good job.

I have been learning to swim, since I had never learned up to this point. It has been an interesting, but good experience. It has given me a new compassion for my patients with "irrational" fears.

Then I just completed a Swift Water Rescue class. Wow! that was one of the hardest things I have ever done in my entire life! I survived, obviously...not that I really thought I would die literally, after all I was being instructed by very competent rescuers...but I will admit it was hard to "emotionally" trust some strangers and ignore some very real fears based on previous experiences I have had in the water. At the end of 3 days I was exhausted physically, mentally and emotionally! I do thank the Lord for helping me endure it all. I know that He is the only reason I was able to finish...

I just completed working a 24 hours shift. There is SO much OT available right now...which is good for me, as I am trying to prepare for an extended vacation in September. My best friend, Tanya, is coming to visit from AUS for about a month and a half and we are planning an extended road trip out west. We will even be hiking/camping in the Grand Canyon for 4 days. I finalized those reservations the other day and we are really looking forward to it! :-D I hope to have a laptop with wireless by then...and will try to keep my blog relatively updated on our journey. :-)

Well, I need to go take my antihistamines, as I am having problems breathing. :-D