Frankenstein Brownies

My two brothers in need of a package? Dinner guests? October? Yep- definitely calls for Frankenstein brownies. I think I had more fun making them then people did eating them...

I love Autumn!

I love October! I am going to miss the changing of the leaves, the first frost and the cool crisp air that comes with October in Utah. One of my favorite things is driving around with my windows down, my heater on and the music loud. But I will enjoy wearing flip flops and taking walks and not having to de-ice my car now that I live in Texas. What I most enjoy about October is that it marks the beginning of all of the great holidays! Today I started my Halloween craftiness by making some fun dinner items...

Here is the process by which you make oranges in to Jack-O-Lanterns with Salad:

Choose lovely oranges (I bought orange/tangerine hybrids because they are a richer orange)

Cut off the top of the orange:

Scoop out the middle with a knife and spoon (save the inside for your salad or whatever else)

Carve like a pumpkin (the skin is softer so be gentle)

Fill with salad and serve! Yummy and fun!

The salad I served was spinach, craisins, orange slices, parmesan cheese with fat-free poppyseed dressing.

Finding Old Friends

Today I did my semi-annual deep cleaning of my apartment. The treasure that I found this year: my collection of mix CD's from high school and college. WOW! So many dear bands that I have not listened to for years as this music never made it to my iPod. Sad, but true... here are some of the long-lost friends that I have once again rediscovered:

Vertical Horizon

Five for Fighting

Switchfoot

Pretty much every one-hit wonder Pop group ever known including gems such as LFO, BoyZone, A*Teens, and of course the classics like Britney, 98 Degrees, Mandy Moore, Backstreet Boys, N'Sync... Sigh.

Welcome back! So many memories, so many dreams, so much drama. Thanks for sharing those long, angst-filled years with me.

That's sort of like "thanks"

I often hear some interesting things at my job. My current favorite quote comes from a recent patient of mine. In his week-plus stay he became quite notorious around the unit for his not-so-pleasant manner. I was doing some charting the other day when I started to hear his voice resonate through the hall. Then I hear "NOT ON YOUR LIFE YOU IDIOTS!!!!!!!!!" For some reason, this just made me laugh out loud. This was the young man's way of saying, "I am not excited to have physical therapy. I would like to decline the opportunity you are giving me to become ambulatory once more." I have continued to laugh out loud about this as it has come to mind- including yesterday while running at the gym. Sometimes I am amazed at the way parents let their children speak... as well as the phrases kids pick up.

  Today while working (not as his nurse) he was discharged. I gave him a big smile and said "You did a great job while you were here- good luck!" His reply: "I'm gonna torch this place."

Yep. You are welcome. :)

Fingerprinting

  Today I had the distinct pleasure of heading to the fingerprinting institution here in Austin. I had turned in my fingerprints weeks ago to get my Texas nursing license but according to the people that did them "the transmission didn't go through- our bad." So I got to spend the morning getting fingerprinted. Not as easy of a process as I thought it would be...

  First I went to the location near work. There I waited on the phone for 40 minutes only to be told that they could not do my prints electronically this second time and that I had to do them on a card. I was then informed that I would have to drive to South Austin (about 25 minutes away without traffic) to the other location that does cards. After sitting in traffic for 40 minutes I arrived. The woman there informed me that I was late. Well yes, I am lady. I drove from your other location (where you knew I was coming from) all the way down here during rush hour! But thanks for pointing that out. 

  I was then informed that I needed to walk these cards to the Board of Nursing myself. That mean a trip to the middle of downtown Austin. Sigh. Well, 1/4 tank of gas later my fingerprints are now where they need to be. Let's hope I pass the background check ;)

  Oh yeah... and when I finally arrived at work I discovered in my haste to get fingerprinted I had forgotten to wear certain item of underclothing specific to women. Sigh... What a day!

The Best Blessings!

I am so lucky to have the BEST friends in the world! Dinner tonight with Ivy and Katie, going to Cali with Jana and getting to play with Tarren for 4 days, seeing Desiree at work every time I work m-f.... Heavenly Father sure has blessed me with such special, amazing and beautiful women in my life. He knows I couldn't get through this time in life without some BIG blessings and He sure has provided them. I love you girls! Thanks for making my life so happy!!!!! My heart if full!

One Month!!

In one month- August 19th!- I will be sipping strawberry Daiquiris on the beach in Playa Del Carmen. Thanks for being such a great friend and agreeing to go with me Katie! I am so EXCITED! Pictures to come...