Monday, March 27, 2006
A waiting game
First of all, here's to my mum's alma mater the Texas Longhorns. Sorry to see you bow out of the tourney, but you made a good run. And National Champs in Baseball and Football is beyond wonderful, the troika sweep would have been grand, but is not to be this year.
On that note, Dance on George Mason, Dance on ......
Right now folks, I'm in a waiting pattern. I'm waiting to hear from the hospital to see if they have agreed to bring up my PRN rate to the local average. I asked about a month ago and have heard nothing. I'm scheduled to work this weekend. If I don't hear soon, this will be my last weekend for them.
I'm waiting for DANSE MACABRE from Laurell K. Hamilton, I'm waiting for Jennifer Crusie's new book in April, and several others including Angela Knight. On the plus side, while visiting my mother I got to visit an ACTUAL bookstore (not the local Books a None we got here) and found that one of my fave authors has a new book out. It's called SEBASTIAN and it's by Anne Bishop who wrote the Black Jewel books from whence my blog got it's name. I wasn't pulled into her fey series, just couldn't get into it, but I'm going to try this new one ... yeah and yippee!
And I'm waiting to find out when my tour leaves for overseas. We were supposed to find out Sunday, but they say they'll let us know this week. It could be on the suggested day or four days prior or four days past that date. This is very important information. No, not for work ... Phffft. No, for THEATRE. The next show, THE GLASS MENAGERIE auditions the 4th and 5th and whether or not I can even audition depends on my travel dates!!!!!! If we leave as suggested or later, I'm cool. But three to four days prior, I can't do this show as those include a performance date.
Now, Tennessee Williams is not my favorite playwrite nor is this by any stretch a play I love or anything. But it is a very dramatic role and I wouldn't mind being a part of it all. I'd love to play Amanda, but who knows. I might not even get cast, which would make it all a moot point. I didn't get a role in THE WIZARD OF OZ, which might have been good considering all the extra time and late nights they put in (and all the kiddos backstage). Everyone I've spoken with who was in it loved it, but is totally exhausted. Maybe this means they won't audition for the next one and I'll have a better chance .... nah. There's a few others who weren't in this show either who will probably audition. I just need to know those dates!!!!
Oh, highly recommend the memoir called THE PRIZE WINNER OF DEFIANCE, OHIO: HOW MY MOTHER RAISED 10 KIDS ON 25 WORDS OR LESS. Lovely read and they made a movie of it as well, which was done well.
Gotta run! Later and God Bless,
Lola
On that note, Dance on George Mason, Dance on ......
Right now folks, I'm in a waiting pattern. I'm waiting to hear from the hospital to see if they have agreed to bring up my PRN rate to the local average. I asked about a month ago and have heard nothing. I'm scheduled to work this weekend. If I don't hear soon, this will be my last weekend for them.
I'm waiting for DANSE MACABRE from Laurell K. Hamilton, I'm waiting for Jennifer Crusie's new book in April, and several others including Angela Knight. On the plus side, while visiting my mother I got to visit an ACTUAL bookstore (not the local Books a None we got here) and found that one of my fave authors has a new book out. It's called SEBASTIAN and it's by Anne Bishop who wrote the Black Jewel books from whence my blog got it's name. I wasn't pulled into her fey series, just couldn't get into it, but I'm going to try this new one ... yeah and yippee!
And I'm waiting to find out when my tour leaves for overseas. We were supposed to find out Sunday, but they say they'll let us know this week. It could be on the suggested day or four days prior or four days past that date. This is very important information. No, not for work ... Phffft. No, for THEATRE. The next show, THE GLASS MENAGERIE auditions the 4th and 5th and whether or not I can even audition depends on my travel dates!!!!!! If we leave as suggested or later, I'm cool. But three to four days prior, I can't do this show as those include a performance date.
Now, Tennessee Williams is not my favorite playwrite nor is this by any stretch a play I love or anything. But it is a very dramatic role and I wouldn't mind being a part of it all. I'd love to play Amanda, but who knows. I might not even get cast, which would make it all a moot point. I didn't get a role in THE WIZARD OF OZ, which might have been good considering all the extra time and late nights they put in (and all the kiddos backstage). Everyone I've spoken with who was in it loved it, but is totally exhausted. Maybe this means they won't audition for the next one and I'll have a better chance .... nah. There's a few others who weren't in this show either who will probably audition. I just need to know those dates!!!!
Oh, highly recommend the memoir called THE PRIZE WINNER OF DEFIANCE, OHIO: HOW MY MOTHER RAISED 10 KIDS ON 25 WORDS OR LESS. Lovely read and they made a movie of it as well, which was done well.
Gotta run! Later and God Bless,
Lola
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
From Margot
Monday, March 20, 2006
My Secret Pal ROCKS!
I came home today with a nagging little feeling that might or might not turn into a headache ... but there on my front porch was a package from my wondermous Secret Pal!
I don't know how my pal knows me so well, but she is simply fantastic. In the box was some of the most delicious yarn, so very soft and ready to be made into socks with a sure-fire first-timer sock-making pattern. There was chocolate eggs for Easter, but there was also some "funny milk candy" from Japan. How she found it in Ohio, I'm not really sure, but I'm so glad she did. The bag she sent the pressies in had an Asian theme that I adore. There was a note card I'm pretty sure was homemade, but so perfect. AND THERE WERE STICKERS for my trip abroad, London and Paris! And by no means least, there was a murder mystery ... a KNITTING murder mystery... "Needled to Death" by Maggie Sefton. Can't wait to read it!
And yes ... there are pictures!
Thank you Secret Pal! Lola is a very, very happy girl!
I don't know how my pal knows me so well, but she is simply fantastic. In the box was some of the most delicious yarn, so very soft and ready to be made into socks with a sure-fire first-timer sock-making pattern. There was chocolate eggs for Easter, but there was also some "funny milk candy" from Japan. How she found it in Ohio, I'm not really sure, but I'm so glad she did. The bag she sent the pressies in had an Asian theme that I adore. There was a note card I'm pretty sure was homemade, but so perfect. AND THERE WERE STICKERS for my trip abroad, London and Paris! And by no means least, there was a murder mystery ... a KNITTING murder mystery... "Needled to Death" by Maggie Sefton. Can't wait to read it!
And yes ... there are pictures!
Thank you Secret Pal! Lola is a very, very happy girl!
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
Gather ye rosebuds while ye may
First of all, let me just shout out to J-Mac. You rock. If you don't know who J-Mac is, look him up. Seriously. Google J-Mac + basketball. Read it or watch it without a tear, if you can.
Today, when I got to work, my friend Sandra was not herself. Her neice's ex-husband had hung himself the previous night. He'd left a message on her machine while she had the ringer off and was watching a movie. They are all devestated, and yes there are children involved. Sandra and the rest of the family had remained friendly even after the divorce. They are pulling around, gathering together for strength and grieving.
A short time ago, a neighbor of my mother's lost her 18 year old granddaughter to viral pneumonia. The mother and son had not spoken in years and even though the son was divorced from his wife and children were in her custody, that silence extended to them as well. The neighbor would have nothing to do with her granddaughter. Then, after her death, at the funeral home, on one side of the hallway was one part of the family and on the other side gathered the other side. Neither son nor mother appeared to make any effort to comfort each other, or even speak.
I do not pretend to know what is really going on in either family or past dynamics between the family members. But I know to which family I'd prefer to belong.
All this means is to "gather ye rosebuds while ye may" and to treasure those around us, for I know I haven't known them long enough. I haven't known my grandmother, my mother, my sister, or any of my brothers long enough. I need more time. Lots more. This includes my stepfather, extended family members (yes even my Uncle John whom I've never met), extended-extended family members ("cousins" in Mexico and elsewhere I'm not even sure how we're related), and co-workers, friends, aquantances, and even those people at work who annoy me at times. I haven't had a chance to know them long enough. Not nearly. But we're not guaranteed any time.
My grandmother would often quote a poem I'd never fully heard nor read, and I would roll my eyes (inside at least). Today I looked it up. It's by Rober Herrick.
Great. I thought it would end my blog on a nice note to treasure each moment and person in your life because time is so fleeting.
INSTEAD ... I get a poem about young women getting MARRIED before they get too old. No WONDER granddmother quoted that line to me!!!!!!! I'm just glad my mother hasn't read it ....
grumble, grumble ... Later, Lola
Today, when I got to work, my friend Sandra was not herself. Her neice's ex-husband had hung himself the previous night. He'd left a message on her machine while she had the ringer off and was watching a movie. They are all devestated, and yes there are children involved. Sandra and the rest of the family had remained friendly even after the divorce. They are pulling around, gathering together for strength and grieving.
A short time ago, a neighbor of my mother's lost her 18 year old granddaughter to viral pneumonia. The mother and son had not spoken in years and even though the son was divorced from his wife and children were in her custody, that silence extended to them as well. The neighbor would have nothing to do with her granddaughter. Then, after her death, at the funeral home, on one side of the hallway was one part of the family and on the other side gathered the other side. Neither son nor mother appeared to make any effort to comfort each other, or even speak.
I do not pretend to know what is really going on in either family or past dynamics between the family members. But I know to which family I'd prefer to belong.
All this means is to "gather ye rosebuds while ye may" and to treasure those around us, for I know I haven't known them long enough. I haven't known my grandmother, my mother, my sister, or any of my brothers long enough. I need more time. Lots more. This includes my stepfather, extended family members (yes even my Uncle John whom I've never met), extended-extended family members ("cousins" in Mexico and elsewhere I'm not even sure how we're related), and co-workers, friends, aquantances, and even those people at work who annoy me at times. I haven't had a chance to know them long enough. Not nearly. But we're not guaranteed any time.
My grandmother would often quote a poem I'd never fully heard nor read, and I would roll my eyes (inside at least). Today I looked it up. It's by Rober Herrick.
Gather ye rosebuds while ye may,
Old Time is still a-flying:
And this same flower that smiles to-day
To-morrow will be dying.
The glorious lamp of heaven, the sun,
The higher he's a-getting,
The sooner will his race be run,
And nearer he's to setting.
That age is best which is the first,
When youth and blood are warmer;
But being spent, the worse, and worst
Times still succeed the former.
Then be not coy, but use your time,
And while ye may, go marry:
For having lost but once your prime,
You may for ever tarry
Great. I thought it would end my blog on a nice note to treasure each moment and person in your life because time is so fleeting.
INSTEAD ... I get a poem about young women getting MARRIED before they get too old. No WONDER granddmother quoted that line to me!!!!!!! I'm just glad my mother hasn't read it ....
grumble, grumble ... Later, Lola
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
The Safety Dance
Okay, I'm not dead yet. And that's only a slightly exaggerated comment. Sunday was bad. So bad I do not feel the need to go into details. Monday I worried I might have pneumonia. A neighbor of my mother's had just lost a teen-age granddaughter to viral pneumonia and my next door neighbor's daughter (who was staying with them) has pneumonia.
See, the thing is ... I rarely ever get sick. And when I do, it drops me. This had me down. But last night I slept better and with no fever after 7 p.m., I chanced going back to work today. I knew I'd be exhausted, and I was - but the good news is no fever. I'm on the road to recovery. yeah!
Here's the interesting part. I get stressed - I eat. I get mad - I eat. I get happy - I eat. Get the pattern? Well, when I get sick - I eat more (and usually the junky stuff). Not this time. For the first time in my entire life .... I lost my appetite. I have not had a meal since Saturday. I've snacked, very lightly despite my best efforts. I finally had a bowl of soup this afternoon, I don't know if you count that as a "meal", but I generally don't.
Which means (drumroll) ... I've lost 3 pounds. This normally would hearken me. Yeah 3 pounds and all that jazz. However, what I'm feeling is more like I was that sick and miserable and ALL I lost was a measely 3 pounds??????. Sad but true. I shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth and all that, but sheeeez. In all actuallity, I'm just so glad to be recovering I'm happy that it was only 3 pounds. It could have been much worse.
Sooooo ... I was feeling better and driving home from work. I can climb into my jammies, curl up, try and eat, and go to bed waaay early. So I was happy, I was feeling better and ... and ... on the radio came the song from the 80's "The Safety Dance".
Now, I loooooved this song. I guess I still do. I played it over and over and over on the way home. (yes, I have a replay button on my Sirius radio, turn green with envy!) This is something that drove my brothers bonkers years ago, me playing the same song over and over again. But, hey - I was alone in the car, on a beautiful day, recovering from misery and 3 pounds lighter! "We can dance if we want to, we can leave your friends behind. Because they don't dance and if they don't dance then they're no friends of mine".
Alright. I'm off to lounge around and do nothing but recover. Wait, I take it back, I have a sudden urge to pull out my Adam Ant and Def Leopard CD's .....
Lola
See, the thing is ... I rarely ever get sick. And when I do, it drops me. This had me down. But last night I slept better and with no fever after 7 p.m., I chanced going back to work today. I knew I'd be exhausted, and I was - but the good news is no fever. I'm on the road to recovery. yeah!
Here's the interesting part. I get stressed - I eat. I get mad - I eat. I get happy - I eat. Get the pattern? Well, when I get sick - I eat more (and usually the junky stuff). Not this time. For the first time in my entire life .... I lost my appetite. I have not had a meal since Saturday. I've snacked, very lightly despite my best efforts. I finally had a bowl of soup this afternoon, I don't know if you count that as a "meal", but I generally don't.
Which means (drumroll) ... I've lost 3 pounds. This normally would hearken me. Yeah 3 pounds and all that jazz. However, what I'm feeling is more like I was that sick and miserable and ALL I lost was a measely 3 pounds??????. Sad but true. I shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth and all that, but sheeeez. In all actuallity, I'm just so glad to be recovering I'm happy that it was only 3 pounds. It could have been much worse.
Sooooo ... I was feeling better and driving home from work. I can climb into my jammies, curl up, try and eat, and go to bed waaay early. So I was happy, I was feeling better and ... and ... on the radio came the song from the 80's "The Safety Dance".
Now, I loooooved this song. I guess I still do. I played it over and over and over on the way home. (yes, I have a replay button on my Sirius radio, turn green with envy!) This is something that drove my brothers bonkers years ago, me playing the same song over and over again. But, hey - I was alone in the car, on a beautiful day, recovering from misery and 3 pounds lighter! "We can dance if we want to, we can leave your friends behind. Because they don't dance and if they don't dance then they're no friends of mine".
Alright. I'm off to lounge around and do nothing but recover. Wait, I take it back, I have a sudden urge to pull out my Adam Ant and Def Leopard CD's .....
Lola
Sunday, March 05, 2006
Feverish
Friday I went to a Mary Kay party for a friend, and started coughing a little. It hurt my throat and I thought it was the sudden temperature changes in the weather, hot, cold, hot, cold.
I had to work Saturday morning at the hospital. I still had the cough but wasn't having any other symptoms. After lunch, I started to feel really, really bad. I went to the nurse and had her take my temperature. Mine usually runs a wee bit lower than average. But the machine kept piling up the numbers 98.7, 98.9, 99.1, 99.5, and finally, 99.8.
Ouch. So, I'm not supposed to work with patients while running a temperature. I had the junior volunteer hand them the equipment while I supervisied from the far side of the room. All transfers were handled by the PTA. I called my supervisor over at the hospital and she had some Tylenol in her purse she let me have and then headed over to take over my remaining patients. Bless her, luckily there weren't many. I documented and left early. Before leaving I had my temperature retaken, 98.6. I guess I could have stayed, but why take the chance of infecting patients, some of whom really, REALLY, don't need to fight off anything else?
I'm home today, medicating and resting and drinking fluids. I really don't feel good at all. It could be a lot worse and I know that. But men aren't the only ones who turn whiney when they get sick. I'm waiting to see how I feel later tonight and in the morning before deciding whether or not to go into work. I'd hate to call in sick, really - I don't LIKE being sick and thankfully rarely am, but it may be necessary. Poor Carla. If I'm out that makes a bad day for her. It's just me and her in the OT department. We'll see.
Lola's down today, folks. Sorry 'bout that.
I've been miserable ever since.
I had to work Saturday morning at the hospital. I still had the cough but wasn't having any other symptoms. After lunch, I started to feel really, really bad. I went to the nurse and had her take my temperature. Mine usually runs a wee bit lower than average. But the machine kept piling up the numbers 98.7, 98.9, 99.1, 99.5, and finally, 99.8.
Ouch. So, I'm not supposed to work with patients while running a temperature. I had the junior volunteer hand them the equipment while I supervisied from the far side of the room. All transfers were handled by the PTA. I called my supervisor over at the hospital and she had some Tylenol in her purse she let me have and then headed over to take over my remaining patients. Bless her, luckily there weren't many. I documented and left early. Before leaving I had my temperature retaken, 98.6. I guess I could have stayed, but why take the chance of infecting patients, some of whom really, REALLY, don't need to fight off anything else?
I'm home today, medicating and resting and drinking fluids. I really don't feel good at all. It could be a lot worse and I know that. But men aren't the only ones who turn whiney when they get sick. I'm waiting to see how I feel later tonight and in the morning before deciding whether or not to go into work. I'd hate to call in sick, really - I don't LIKE being sick and thankfully rarely am, but it may be necessary. Poor Carla. If I'm out that makes a bad day for her. It's just me and her in the OT department. We'll see.
Lola's down today, folks. Sorry 'bout that.
I've been miserable ever since.
Thursday, March 02, 2006
Sing, Sing a Song
My friend Mary and I both like music a lot. She is by far the better singer, since she's really good and I really, really suck at it. No, I'm not being down on myself, that's just the way it is. Lola can't sing.
We both watch American Idol. From there we differ greatly.
She liked Constantine. I didn't.
I loved Bo Bice. She didn't.
She (so far and on limited exposure due to her busy schedule), doesn't like Sway.
Neither do I.
She likes Ace. I think he's something of a pretty boy with an ok voice.
She hates Bucky.
Okay now ... what to say about Bucky. In my OPINION ... and I speak for no one else. Bucky is not the best to look at, he's rough, unpolished, and oh so very country. Not slick country, backwoods country. Not really my style of anything.
So why do I like him so much? I can't tell you. He has endeared himself to me and I really, really, do love the tone of his rough vocals. He's no pretty boy, that's for certain, but he's ... my underdog for this season. I like Bucky. Go figure.
However, Bucky isn't my choice as the top winner.
Chris Daughtery is ... fantastic. I like his voice, his style, and how he has presented himself and his family.
Last year I was all about the Southern Rocker. But ... stranger than strange, this year I might actually like country.
Country with an edge. Not Big and Rich (ugh). Country mixed with Incubus, Joe Cocker, and Lynard Skynard.
Bucky and Chris, you have my vote. Although ....there is Taylor, who is as blusey as they come. As for the girls, it's Mandissa and Kelly. Paris is falling a bit behind.
We both watch American Idol. From there we differ greatly.
She liked Constantine. I didn't.
I loved Bo Bice. She didn't.
She (so far and on limited exposure due to her busy schedule), doesn't like Sway.
Neither do I.
She likes Ace. I think he's something of a pretty boy with an ok voice.
She hates Bucky.
Okay now ... what to say about Bucky. In my OPINION ... and I speak for no one else. Bucky is not the best to look at, he's rough, unpolished, and oh so very country. Not slick country, backwoods country. Not really my style of anything.
So why do I like him so much? I can't tell you. He has endeared himself to me and I really, really, do love the tone of his rough vocals. He's no pretty boy, that's for certain, but he's ... my underdog for this season. I like Bucky. Go figure.
However, Bucky isn't my choice as the top winner.
Chris Daughtery is ... fantastic. I like his voice, his style, and how he has presented himself and his family.
Last year I was all about the Southern Rocker. But ... stranger than strange, this year I might actually like country.
Country with an edge. Not Big and Rich (ugh). Country mixed with Incubus, Joe Cocker, and Lynard Skynard.
Bucky and Chris, you have my vote. Although ....there is Taylor, who is as blusey as they come. As for the girls, it's Mandissa and Kelly. Paris is falling a bit behind.
