ABC survey

A. Age: 23

B. Bed size: twin bed at my apartment and full at home

C. Chore you dislike: washing dishes

D. Dogs: none yet :(

E. Essential start to your day: coffee.

F. Favorite color: purple, pink & light aqua blue!

G. Gold or silver: silver.

H. Height: 5'2".

I. Instruments you play(ed): started out on clarinet and played that throughout middle & high school for wind ensemble and played it for marching band one year, played in pit band for marching band another year (bells...I moved and this was after everyone went to band camp so I couldn't learn the sets lol), played mellophone for the last 2 years of marching band, played oboe one year for pit band (musical: Anything Goes) and played french horn another year for pit band (musical: Meet Me In St. Louis).

J. Job title: technically now a "graduate nurse" but I'm a nurse tech. I get to do everything the RN's do except assess and pass meds...and I can't do anything with central lines.

K. Kids: none. Not for awhile, at least 5 years lol.

L. Live: currently in Ohio. moving to Texas in May!

M. Mom’s name: Ann

N. Nicknames: Mel

O. Overnight hospital stays: I don't think I have ever stayed overnight at a hospital.

P. Pet peeve: ohhhh lots...people who don't perform their duties at work, dayshift nurses who think night shift does nothing except sit on their ass all night, people who always think they are right and can never admit when they're wrong, people who smack their food and chew with their mouth open, slow drivers, people who double park, people who mix up their your/you're and there/they're/their's, tailgaters, when my roommate leaves week+ old coffee in MY travel mugs and then they get all moldy and gross, people who cut me off...I could go on and on!

Q. Quote from a movie: "stay frosty" - Cpl Hicks from Aliens (I love that movie!)

R. Righty or Lefty: righty

S. Siblings: an 29-yo brother.

T. Time you wake up: depends...9-9:30am is my usual time, though.

U. Underwear: sporting some ones from VS pink :)

V. Vegetables you don’t like: mushrooms, olives

W. What makes you run late: I'm usually always on time or 5-10 minutes early. It is unusual for me to be late.

X. X-Rays you’ve had: teeth, right hand

Y. Yummy food you make: spaghetti squash with sauteed eggplant, zucchini & onions :)

Z. Zoo animal favorite: pandas!

kusudama and work...

I was browsing on random websites yesterday and came across kusudama, a type of Japanese modular origami that usually takes folded pieces of paper with the same geometric shape and they're taped/glued/sewn together into a sphere, kind of like this:

I thought it was interesting, so I learned how to make the flower. It was actually very easy, but somewhat time consuming. I used computer paper and had to tear them into square pieces. I used 5 pieces of paper and then taped them all together with medical tape lol. It is nowhere near perfect, but here is what mine looked like:

Then I was looking to see if you can make them into flower arrangements, instead of the traditional spherical arrangement, and sure enough you can!

Red/white arrangement

Pink/blue flowers

White flowers

I think these are so cool! and different and unique. I'm thinking about making these into centerpieces for the reception. It would be a lot cheaper than using fresh or even flake flowers to decorate...all I would have to do is buy some nice paper, buy some green wire or something else for the stem, maybe a spool of ribbon to wrap around the stems and maybe some pearl/rhinestones to either jazz up the petals or put in the center of each flower. And borrow a glue gun. and buy some pretty vases, which I can get for cheap at Michael's/Pat Catan's/Dollar Tree. And maybe some purple pebbles to go at the bottom of each vase. Probably be about $30 for all of them vs. $100's for fake/fresh flowers. The Galaxy already has squared or round mirrored glass that I could use. Maybe I'll put a couple of votives around the glass. And my MIL already bought ivory petals with our names and date embossed on them in purple writing. That + purple fake petals sprinkled around the table and cake table would look really nice, too.

The Galaxy has these brass lamps that they would use to decorate the tables, but honestly I wasn't too crazy about them. I'd rather use this idea. Or I could go with the very easy bowl of water, floating tea lights, colored marbles/pebbles at the bottom and put the bowl on mirrored glass with some flower petals sprinkled around. I like the first idea better. I'm not crafty, but I'd like to do something different. And these flowers aren't hard to make, they just take some time.

and a vent about work last night:

1) I hate how the dayshift NA's literally "pick and choose" who they want to bathe. we occasionally get bariatric patients on our floor and who do they always leave for evening/night shift to bathe? them. Now I don't mind giving bed baths/doing AM care. That's part of the job of an NA/tech and yes even RN's/LPN's too but 99% of the time the nurses on my floor has help from supports so of course they will be delegated. What I DO mind is when they pick and choose. They can't do that. YOUR JOB in the morning is to get vitals Q4H and to get patients up and ready for the day. Yes, I know sometimes the shift can get crazy and you can't get the whole floor done and I know some patients are off for tests all day or refuse to do anything. Well this patient yesterday told me she has been asking all day to get cleaned up, but of course the dayshift NA's didn't want to do it. They usually have more supports for day shift (a lot of times 3!) and for evenings 1-2 and for nights, lately it's been none. One of the RN's who now took a full-time position on our floor (and yay, because I love her!) asked me how long this has been going on and I told her for awhile...and she said that myself or the CN or someone should write them up for that, because they are NA's, and they can't be delegating stuff to me. which is true.

2) ...and of course while Shannon and I were in the middle of bathing this patient, I had to leave the room to grab some stuff and immediately one of the RN's asked me to get a blood sugar on this patient because she had to go call the doctor. I wouldn't have minded if I wasn't already in the middle of the something, but I was kind of annoyed because she was basically asking me to drop everything that I was doing just to get her blood sugar. Yes, she had to call the doctor. But yes, there were other RN's who are also capable of getting blood sugars that weren't busy, so why couldn't she ask them?

Other than that, work was fine yesterday. I successfully started another IV! I'll take all of the practice I can get :)

♫ i know that life is beautiful around the world ♫

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Last night was Linda's going away party. She is one of the RN's I work with and is leaving our unit to become a PCC (patient care coordinator) on a psych floor at a hospital literally across the street from us lol. Same company. I'm happy for her, but I'll miss her, because she is one of my favorite dayshift RN's (there are only a few haha). Anyway, one our nursing assistants organized it for her at Stonehedge, which is a bowling alley. We went in the back at this large table to order food and talk. I loved how day shifters sat on one end of the table, Shannon & I were kind of in the middle (we primarily work evenings, 3-11) and then night shifters were at the other end lol. People talked about drama, which I tried to stay out of; then Danielle, Jessica, Steve, David (all RN's), Shannon & myself decided we were going to go play some pool.

But they didn't have any pool. So we just sat at the bar instead.

And they discovered my embarrassing trait - I turn BRIGHT red when I drink. Not just a "little" red, because I know a lot of people turn red. I turn obnoxiously red. and from very small amounts of alcohol, too. I'll have a few sips of whatever and I'll start to turn red. And you can indicate how much I've had by looking at my face! It starts at the top of my forehead and starts making it's way down lol.

I also get a little "puffy" too haha.

The reason why I turn so red is because I'm 50% Chinese, and Asian people lack an enzyme to properly digest the ETOH (or alcohol, if you will). My dad was the same way, my brother is the same way and all of my Asian friends are the same way. But no one is bad as me!

Anyway, I drank half of Danielle's Mongolian Motherfucker (her and Jessica are such enablers! Jessica kept passing her's off to me too lol). I don't know what it's in it because there are like 8 different liquors but it seriously tastes just like fruit punch.

We hung out at the bar for awhile then decided we were going to go bowling, but then we met up with the other day shifters and they decided they were all leaving, so we decided to go to a bar down in The Valley instead. The bar we went to reminded me of my favorite bar in Canton called Fiddlestix (though Fiddlestix is a lot cooler :)). It was all of us + Jessica's brother and sister decided to come out. We had a fun, fun time! I haven't had that much in awhile! I drank a Leinenkugel Berry Weiss (one of my favorite beers!), Jessica bought a round of cherry bombs (which were NASTY, tasted just like cherry Robitussen...ick! I couldn't finish all of it), then had two large amaretto sours. That is A LOT of alcohol for 5'2", 110lb, 1/2 Chinese tiny little me, but I lived haha. I rarely go out and drink anyways.

This is going to have to happen more often, though :)

Jessica & Danielle want to have a fake bachelorette party and hit up the bars in Cleveland (because you get free drinks) but I'll be back in Missouri during that time spending sweet, sweet time with the hubby :) I can't wait!

the verdict...

we went to the tasting today.

I feel like such a fatass haha.

But this what we decided on for the reception:

1. baked scod with beurre-blanc and tomatoes; rice pilaf and roasted mixed vegetables

2. prime rib au jus with horseradish cream; roasted rosemary-garlic redskin potatoes and roasted mixed vegetables

3. chicken marsala with garlic smashed redskin potatoes and roasted mixed vegetables.

for hors d'eourves we are doing pork potstickers and stuffed mushrooms with Italian sausage :)

We're doing a cake tasting this upcoming Thursday, and we'll be sampling:

1. almond cake with raspberry preserves

2. hazelnut torte with chocolate ganache

3. white cake with strawberry buttercream

4. red velvet with cream cheese

:)

I'm slowly starting to knock things off the list.

I still have A LOT I need to do, though.

[] schedule a meeting with the church and plan the ceremony and all of that.

[] meet with my florist to discuss options.

[] order invitations (which I plan on doing so very soon)

[] send out invitations.

[] look for BM gifts. and a gift for my mom. do you get a gift for your mother in law, too?

[] look for reception favors, and other details (like toasting flutes, memory candle, guestbook...)

[] pay for doves (I'm doing a 12 dove release after the wedding ceremony outside...that's $225)

[] pay my final church payment (which is like $750...)

[] pay for wedding pictures (which my M/FIL might pay for as our wedding gift)

[] pay DJ

[] pay my florist

yikes!

totally unrelated to wedding planning but still very important:

[] go back to FLW to 1) see my hubby! :D and 2) do taxes.

[] get my ATT and schedule my damn NCLEX!

♫ home is wherever i'm with you ♫

Goodnight Moon is doing a music link-up! This has been my favorite song lately because it is so catchy and I love the chorus! reminds me of E ♥

Alabama, Arkansas, I do love my Ma & Pa
Not the way that I do love you

Holy roly, me, oh my, you’re the apple of my eye
Girl, I’ve never loved one like you

Man, oh man, you’re my best friend, I scream it to the nothingness
There ain’t nothin’ that I need

Well, hot & heavy, pumpkin pie, chocolate candy, Jesus Christ
There ain’t nothin’ please me more than you

Chorus:
Ahh, Home
Let me come Home
Home is wherever I’m with you
(2x)
La la la la, take me Home
Baby, I’m coming Home

I’ll follow you into the park, through the jungle, through the dark
Girl, I’ve never loved one like you

Moats & boats & waterfalls, alley ways & pay phone calls
I’ve been everywhere with you

That’s true

We laugh until we think we’ll die, barefoot on a summer night
Nothin’ new is sweeter than with you

And in the sticks we’re running free like it’s only you and me
Geez, you’re something to see.

Chorus

“Jade?”
“Alexander?”
“Do you remember that day you fell out of my window?”
“I sure do, you came jumping out after me.”
“Well, you fell on the concrete and nearly broke your ass and you were bleeding all over the place and I rushed you off to the hospital. Do you remember that?”
“Yes, I do.”
“Well, there’s something I never told you about that night.”
“What didn’t you tell me?”
“While you were sitting in the backseat smoking a cigarette you thought was going to be your last, I was falling deep, deeply in love with you and I never told you ‘til just now.”
“Now I know.”

Ahh, Home
Let me come Home
Home is whenever I’m with you
Ahh, Home
Let me come Home
Home is when I’m alone with you

Home
Let me come Home
Home is wherever I’m with you

Ahh, Home
Yes, I am Home
Home is when I’m alone with you.

Alabama, Arkansas, I do love my Ma & Pa
Moats & boats & waterfalls & pay phone calls

Ahh, Home
Let me come Home
Home is wherever I’m with you
Ahh, Home
Let me come Home
Home is when I’m alone with you

another MilSpouse Friday Fill-in!

Head over to Wife of a Sailor's blog to participate in this week's questions!

1. What is your favorite MilSpouse blog (not including Wife of a Sailor who we all love, or your own)? Submitted by Our Crazy Life.

I honestly don't have a particular favorite - I love reading all of them for a variety of reasons.

2. What are your favorite perks about your SO being deployed (we all know there are perks!)? Submitted by Ramblings of a Marine Wife.

Although we haven't been through a deployment yet, we have been separated. I would have to say my favorite thing is less laundry to do. Oh, and I eat a lot healthier, too! But don't get me wrong - I would much rather have him here than being away!

3. How long did you date your husband before getting engaged? Married? submitted by Utterly Chaotic.

We dated for nearly 3 years before we got engaged, and then we were engaged for 3 months before we got married lol. We're still having our formal wedding celebration on May 14th of this year, though.

4. What do you think your husband would do if he wasn't in the military? Submitted by Adventures of M-Squared.

My husband has a bachelor's in Political Science (which he hated haha), an associate's in Criminal Justice and a minor in Military Science. He's already thinking about this anyway once he retires from the Army, but probably law enforcement. He's an active duty MP right now (don't hate!) so that's perfect. Either that or a professional race car driver LOL!

5. If you could talk to the Secretary of the Army what is one suggestion you would like to bring to their attention in order to improve the lives of military families? Submitted by My Life as His (Air Force) Wife.

Shorter deployments (which would probably mean more frequent, but not necessarily). I do not understand why the Army and Marines have to go for so long and the Air Force only deploys for like 6 months at a time. I'm not sure about the Navy. Anyway, my SIL's husband is a USAF NCO...he deployed to Kuwait/Iraq in summer 2009 and made is back just in time for Christmas. He hasn't deployed since, but he mentioned possibly deploying again this fall/winter. That's still over 2 years of no deployment! I'm sorry, but that just isn't fair. Army/USMC averages 1 year on, 1 year off but sometimes it's not even a year off...I've heard of soldiers coming back for a few months then having to be deployed again for at least another year! They really need to consider that the wives/husbands/families of our deployed soldiers/airmen/sailors/devil dogs are greatly affected by this, too. I don't know, just my 2 cents.

I went to the local tattoo/piercing place to get...

my ear lobes re-pierced! Lol I felt so lame. I sat down and this girl next to me asked what I was getting done. She was getting a Monroe, and I told her I was getting my ear lobes haha. I had my ears pierced back in like elementary school and stopped wearing them in middle school, I think. I miss being able to wear earrings and I don't want to be like my grandma and have to wear clip ons, especially with my wedding around the corner.

I was having a miniature panic attack inside lol. Turns out, my holes never fully closed - they were still actually open, but I couldn't get an earring in there. The guy just had to stretch them out a bit so he could fit an earring in there. He said I was better off coming to him than trying to do it on my own or to go to Claire's/Icing/Piercing Pagoda with those crappy piercing guns that can't ever be properly sterilized. I had very minimal discomfort. I was expecting it to hurt really bad. I'm such a wuss when it comes to pain and I hate being on the receiving end of needles! But whatever, I can wear earrings again now, yay! And since this is a healed piercing and not a new hole, I don't have to go through the whole "healing" process. I can actually switch out my earrings now if I wanted to.

yay!