Bummer

Spring break is over and I have returned to my clinical site.  It was a short week, as these kinds of breaks always are, but I feel like it was a full week. 

Yes, I got the patio furniture out.  And grilled.  True, my grilling extended into the dusk because you can't start grilling at 5:00 before Spring Forward and expect to have adequate light. 

Yes, we took a mini-road trip.  To Lancaster.

No, I didn't paint the basement. 

I also didn't have a movie night.  Although I wanted to have one last night, but K is sick and the internet was down (no Netflix). 

I did not plant my seeds.  Yes, I am worried that I won't get them planted in time for the Harvest.  But you see, all of the little planter cubes are in K's car. The car that he hit with the deer.  The car that's in the shop. 

I will try to plant them on Monday, and talk to them a lot more, to try to increase their growth spurt.  

But, I did buy a healthy amount of new nail polishes, painted my toes a bright pink, and wore my favorite flip-flops for the first time this year:

And I finally hung up some pictures down here.  I anticipate that finishing painting the walls and trim may be put off for many more weeks, so I embraced that fact and just hung up stuff anyways.

Yep, that's Seattle.

Our favorite National parks:  Teton, Mt. Rainier, Yellowstone, and Olympic. 

And just because I was having the best flowy-shiny-run-your-fingers-through-it-hair day ever, I captured it. 

Good bye Spring Break.  I know that next year I will be an adult again and have a full-time job.  Still, each spring I will set goals that have to do with gardening, with getting as much of that first warm weather as I can, with movies that have to be seen and books to be read, and maybe I'll throw out those goals and do whatever comes up instead.  I'll make an effort though, because it felt good to cross off things this time around.  

Good morning, good morning

You know it's going to be a decent day when you start it with Jason Mraz.  It's a gloomy, blustery day outside, there's a flood warning in effect (giggle), and yet, it's sunny inside.  That's because I have a Jason Mraz FarmAid concert playing on my tv.

It takes a thought to make a word

And it takes some words to make an action
It takes some work to make it work
It takes some good to make it hurt
It takes some bad for satisfaction

La la la la la la la life is wonderful


Ah la la la la la la life goes full circle


Ah la la la la la la life is wonderful



 It takes a night to make it dawn
And it takes a day to make you yawn brother
And it takes some old to make you young
It takes some cold to know the sun
It takes the one to have the other

And it takes no time to fall in love
But it takes you years to know what love is
It takes some fears to make you trust
It takes those tears to make it rust
It takes the dust to have it polished

It takes some silence to make sound
It takes a loss before you found it
And it takes a road to go nowhere
It takes a toll to make you care
It takes a hole to make a mountain



I have loved his music since 2003, when he first came out on the radio.  He just keeps getting better and better.
 
Jason Mraz on the tv, and a puppy nestled under blankets next to me. Did I mention that I have the spring/summer sheets out now?  No more flannel sheets for the year.  Yes, spring has sprung.  Jason, puppy snoring away, silky sheets, and another day off.  Yes, I know. 

 
I did work last night.  It felt weird because I'm not getting very many shifts lately. Blame it on my scheduler, blame it on the economy, or take it as a sign that I need to find another job for the time being.  BUT, here are the top quotes (all said to me) from last night's shift:
 

1) "Mrs. B is telling me that she is in pain.  So maybe when you get back there, you should give her a pain pill." --Nurses assistant    REALLY?!? Is that what you do? I guess I skipped that day of class in NURSING SCHOOL.
 
2) "Is there anything that YOU need?" --a pleasantly confused little old lady.  Love it. 
 
3) "Are you a nurse?"  ME:  "Yes, why?"   Her: "I could tell. You have that touch."---the tinniest of tiny, little old lady.  Best. Compliment. Ever.
 
 
Like I said, there's a flood warning for our area.  And yet, I really see no rain at the moment.  This happens everytime it rains for more than an hour here.  That's because they don't have ditches like we do in Western Washington.  They lack the drainage mechanisms that we have mastered.  On the news the other day, they anticipated this storm, and said that if it were snow, we'd get up to 36 inches. 
 
I thought that for every inch of rain, you can get 10 inches of snow. Watch out! There's a flood warning in effect for 3.6 inches. 
 
If there was more, I don't care.  Rainy days are a good thing. Oh how I love falling asleep to the sound of rain.  And more rain means that winter has passed.

So on this "rainy day", I'm going to continue to snuggle with this snoring puppy (seriously, why is she so tired?).  And in a little while, I'm going to make a crunchy, gooey grilled cheese sandwich on a cast iron pan, and pair it with tomato soup.  See? rainy days are great!

Making my day

Yesterday was a delicious day off.  Here are the highlights:

1) The only actual organizing that I did was cleaning off my desk.  But, that's good enough because a clean desk opens up more possibilities than some folded laundry. 

2) Hearing The Boss on the way home from dinner last night.  IS there a more manly man??  His music makes you feel like a rock star.  Good things do come from New Jersey.

3) Dante.  Ah, we had Mexican food last night (or Harrisburg's version of it), and they had live music from 6-9.  Now, K was having a bad day, well a bad week because he hit that...deer....but as soon as we saw the poster for live music, we knew the day had just shifted.  This man was amazing!  He played a La Bamba/ Tequila remix, and I didn't even know there were words to Tequila.  And everytime I turned around, he looked at me and smiled.  Mmmm

4) I've talked about this blog before, and finally, it's getting the recognition that it deserves.  Kelle will be interviewed on CNN on Tuesday at 1600.  I can't wait to watch! 

5) And finally, talking to Katie.  She and I have been best friends since elementary school, even though we've lived in different states for 99% of that friendship.  She's a friend that I can always count on, and we pick up right where we left off when we talk.  Now that I'm living in Harrisburg, we live slightly closer (she's in NY).  We have started talking once a week, and usually average a 2 hr phone call each time.  I laugh (actually, giggle) everytime we talk.

I'm thankful for these little moments of yesterday.  That's what life is all about.

On Loyalty

I am loyal to Seattle. I defend it's raininess, I admit it does rain.  I stand up for it's poor baseball team while distracting  you with the thought of garlic fries at Safeco (and Shishka-berries....and those good stadium brats next to the secret escalator).  And, I acknowledge that while Seattle does have it's faults, I love it truly anyways. 

Which, is why I also love Pittsburgh. 

In Pittsburgh, you are proud of where you're from, but still give your home a hard time.  You bust it's balls.  You boo when you need to.  You call it out if need be.   You don't make excuses, you don't coddle it and make it a sissy city.

Burghers know that the Pirates are approaching their 18th year of losing seasons. They know it.  Yes, in the back of their mind they're thinking, "Well maybe we can get to .500....." but quickly change the subject to the Steelers (well, maybe not right now), OR the Penguins. 

They know that the city is a gem.  But, they're still open to sharing it.  Living in Central Pennsylvania for over 2 years, I can strongly state that people here are douchebags.  Straight up, loaded douchebags.  You know why?  Because they're mean!!  They don't care about you if you're not from here, and their left over PA-dutchness just translates into unfriendliness.  This is a known fact, I'm not being dramatic here.  I can be a successful nurse anywhere now, because I have tolerated and put up with Central PA nurses.  They're as harsh as they come.  PITTSBURGH on the otherhand isn't like that.  They like you. They'll toss you a beer and invite you over to their house.  They'll share their kishka with you.  It's a whole other world. 

SO, in summary, I heart Pittsburgh because their people are welcoming, they are in love with their city, but they're realistic about it's contents. 

Seattle, sometimes you just don't stack up.  NOW, I'm not comparing you to Pittsburgh, because Pitt doesn't have mountains or Tom Douglas, so they're automatically eliminated. 

But sometimes, you're kinda wussy.

For instance:

1) In June of 2007, K and I attended a legendary Mariners vs Pirates baseball game at Safeco.  Now, if you remember from above, the Pirates have had 17 back to back to back to...well you get it, losing seasons.  The last time they had a winning season, Johnny Carson was hosting the tonight show.  I digress....
My point is, we should have won.  We were close to winning. There was a point in the game where a rally was all they needed to win.  The music was thumping, our best of the best was up to bat, the Pirates were getting that familiar feeling in their stomachs again.  And do you know what happened?  PEOPLE JUST SAT THERE!!!!!! No rally. No standing, no yelling, no clapping. Nothing. 

Sometimes, Seattle, your lack of enthusiasm upsets me.  Seattle pride is sometimes nonexistent. 

2) Communication.   I love K so much because he's a sarcastic son of a bitch.  He'll dish it and take it, and give a high five for a good zinger.  Seattle, not so much.  I was sarcastic before I met the man of my dreams, but now, holy goat, I cut it up.  Which, makes me kinda sad, Seattle, because you could be so much more.  Out there, people take things kind of literally.  They're removed from that East Coast way of life, and are more laid back.  Which isn't a bad thing in a lot of ways, but when it comes to good  sarcasm, I have to look elsewhere. 

 Seattlelites: when people give you a hard time about something in Seattle, you take it personally and defend it, rather than giving it back.  Give it back!!  If someone asks you how many Super Bowl rings you have, ask them how Big Ben is doing.  Oh, sorry honey.  Really, I'm sorry!

3) Finally, dependability.  Out here (Pittsburgh and beyond), you just don't do certain things.  IF you say you're going to be somewhere, you're there.  If you say "I'll meet you at..... for....." you're there.  Friendships are like family.  I'm lucky because K has a loyal group of great friends, who will be there for you, defend you, take out someone if need be, etc.  They don't pull stunts.  They don't bullshit around.  They're present, they don't make excuses.  They're loyal BECAUSE loyalty translates through city, family, and friends.  Pittsburgh has that down pat.  Seattle, is kinda wishy-washy sometimes.  People do make excuses.  Friends are disposable.  Some people ask how you're doing just to be in the loop.  I would say that this is Seattle's biggest flaw. 

And I'm calling them out. Because, to really love a city, to be loyal to it, you have to understand it's weaknesses.  That doesn't mean you're turning your back on it.  If I had my way, I'd incorporate more people from Pittsburgh to Seattle.  Then I'd have mountains and great friends all in one little metropolis. 

I love you Seattle. I love you Pittsburgh. 

We all, like our cities, lack in certain areas, but to fully grow, we can't deny them.

Again, I'm sorry K. That was out of line.  =)  

#6: Take a mini-road trip

To somewhere more sunny. 

Unfortunately, road trips can only go so far when you plan them at one in the afternoon.  K had a eye appointment at 0845, to which they dilated the hell out of his beautiful blues.  And yes, he rocked the creepy terminator glasses that they give you at the doctors. Hotness. 

After the doctors, we had breakfast and watched the waitress yell at the line cook for a good 5 minutes.  Words like "tool bag" and "stoned" were used repeatedly-- all this over an argument about what's in French dressing. 

We rushed home after to feed the dogs (bad mommy, I know) and to grab my camera, because we were going to do something with our rare day off together. 

So around 1300, we grabbed some drinks and took off. 

Lame, I know.  But what do you want from a spontaneous road trip?  No excuse, you say?  Because there are Sheetz everywhere around here?  Oh well.

Drinks: check.  Music:  oh man, did we have music.  

LUCKILY, and strangely, my ancient cd holder--you know one of those black zipped binders where you can hold, like 200 cds-- was in the car.  No MP3s for this girl.   And do you know what was in that embarassingly old cd thingy? 

Dun dun dunnn.....

Freakin sweet right?

Music: so checked. Destination: well all we could come up with was Lancaster, PA.  A 45 min drive.  Through Amish country.  I'll take it. 

We drove, and we sang as loud as I've ever heard.  You know why? BECAUSE WE KNEW EVERY SINGLE WORD!   Ah, how I feel bad for my 14 year old brain.  We called out key changes and mimicked dance moves, and laughed, and laughed. 

At one point, K asked me, "Do you think less of me now?"

To which I replied, "No way! This is AWESOME!!"

He and I have known each other for 10 years, but we didn't know that we both listened to NSYNC until it was cemented into our not-yet-fully-developed-brains. 

Kinda makes me wish I studied Spanish like that when I was 14. 

So, Lancaster.  Amish country mixed in with Central Pennsylvania. You'll see buggies, you'll definitely see their "exhaust" laying on the road, and you'll also see clothes lines filled. 

But as you can see, it's still winter here (ah man), and so Lancaster was not as busy as I'd hoped.  No one's planting yet.  We took it for what it was and tried to make it a good road-trip anyways.  I'd pick a direction and then he would.  We drove over rolling hills and admired the farmscaping.  The grass is starting to brighten and pretty soon the fields will be busy.  This is one of the best things about living here.  Farms mean green and green means farm stands.  And even though I'll be planting my own little garden haven soon, there's nothing like farmstand produce.  Nothing.

And it was pretty sunny too.

Finally, a road trip calls for a pit stop.  Here was ours:

We stopped in Strasburgh, and had a bite to eat in their oh-so-cute store, which was filled with caramel apples, swedish fish, almond bark, and canned goods.  YES, I know it's probably a tourist trap, but what is a road trip, even a mini one, without that? 

And a buggy shot.  They don't like to be photographed, so I focused on the horse:

It was a good day.  We rolled down the windows, enjoyed some Elton John greatest hits on the ride home, and I rested my head against him as he drove.  Because, the best thing about a road trip, is sharing it with someone you love. Finding something new, discovering something together, laughing, and reminiscing:  that's what a road trip is all about. 

Thank you my incredible love, for humoring me and jumping in the car with me.  For singing loud and dancing in your seat.  For rockin those fine-ass terminator glasses.  For going back to the car at the pitstop and getting my camera.   For being you and loving me.  For ending the day with this:

Little did we know, this was a last-hoorah for a while for K's car.

Because yesterday, he hit a deer.  And that's all I'll say about the deer because I don't want to think sad thoughts. Yes, K's okay.

SO, (ah, don't think about the deer or the deer fur that was on his front bumper) anyways, today, is all about organizing and cleaning and putting things where they need to be.  BECAUSE, as good as days off with your love and his stupendous Justin Timberlake abilities are, getting things in order days are better.  They make you feel accomplished and like a super-girl.

My dog is eating everything in sight.  I need to finish this up.

Mmmmm....spring break

I'm savoring this spring break like no other. 

Cancun and Vegas breaks are so out-of-style.  Give me a little sunshine, a car, and a camera, and of course, my love, and I'm set.  End the day with a sleeping lab at my feet and his caring hand on my leg, and that's all I need. 

We had another adventure today.  Pictures and a post to follow.  I just want to live in this day a little more, and dwell in the fact that I'm getting back to my normal self.  Moving 3000 miles away from your home, your family, friends, and your mountains can change a girl.  It throws your equilibrium off, makes you dizzy, and out of sorts.  Seattle is very different from Harrisburg.  Duh.  But, the Seattle me shouldn't differ from the Harrisburg me.  I'm realizing that more and more.  I can incorporate the things I love back home even in Central Pennsylvania.

I thought about this deeply when we had our little mini-road trip today (!!).  In the last few weeks, I've taken a random drive, hauled the pup into the wilderness despite 10 inches of snow, ran, and embraced nature to the degree of almost-hugging-an-actual-tree. I did these things in winter.  In Harrisburg.  I've had salmon multiple times, grilled, and assembled my rubs with love in an artistic fashion, front and center in the kitchen cupboard.  AND, I have taken so many freakin pictures, that I'll actually remember what I've done!  

Moving brought out a hidden, brewing depression.  It wasn't his fault, it wasn't my fault, it was just there and it was amplified by moving.  Suddenly, I wasn't happy and I didn't have an identity, except for telling people, "I'm from Seattle," when I met them.  Therapy and medicine helped, but this is helping more.  Capturing and recording, sharing and contemplating, this blog has really helped me brush off that funk, and come into my own.   It's a simple blog, and it's developing, but it  helps me.  Maybe it will help someone else someday.  Maybe people will at least look at the pictures and think "ooh, pretty,"  or "my goodness, that is the cutest dog I've ever seen."  It's something and it's mine, and that's just good enough. 

So tomorrow, I will post again, and share more pictures. I will write about how great it felt so roll the window down in the car, and sing,  and laugh, and look over at a boy and realize how lucky I am to live here, how lucky I am to have found love.  I'll share those feelings, hit publish, and smile, because I know that my life is being lived.

And just because it makes me happy

Pictures of someone who loves the sunshine more than me:

Gotta love all the carpet fibers on her.  It's from rollin around in the sun.