Zoom Zoom Zoom November 13, 2009

I picked up my car today from the vehicle processing center in Baltimore. What a great feeling….my own wheels again. No more borrowing Mom and Dad’s car…I’m sure they are just as happy about that as I am. I start work full time on the 23rd so the timing couldn’t have been better.

I went to North Carolina earlier this week to take care of getting the tags and registration updated and when I returned last night there was an email waiting for me saying that my card was ready to be picked up. Talk about lucky. Things seem to be falling right in to place for me with this transition back to life in the US. I’m really thankful. I needed a break!

My trip to North Carolina was too short as usual. I never manage to see all of the people I need to see even though most of them are in the same neighborhood that I stay in. The weather this trip was HORRIBLE! Thanks Ida. The good thing about this trip was that another knitting addict was born. Welcome to the club Emilie! LOL. You should have let me teach you how to make those pillows! : ) Now you have to pay for the pillows and YARN! : )

Getting Settled November 8, 2009

Now that I’ve realized that Chile isn’t going to happen for me, I’ve gone in to “getting settled” mode.  I’m finally organizing my things like I’m going to be here for a while because…well I am.  I went out and purchased that horrible put together furniture that I vowed I would never buy again.  Just 2 pieces.  That seems like enough at the time.  Til I started organizing that is and realized that I should have super sized it.  LOL.  Just when did I manage to accumulate all of this stuff?  Really it isn’t that bad if I were in my own space and had space to put everything.  It just a little cramped here in the sewing room/guest room at Mom and Dad’s, but I’ll manage.  I will however be purchasing a new bed with my very first fulltime job pay check because this futon is just simply not going to work for another 6 months.  I’m surprised my back isn’t protesting daily!  Hang in there back, you have proper support real soon.

The job hunting has gone pretty well.  I have another interview on Monday and hopefully another offer and then will have a decision to make.  I was offered a job last week, but told them I needed to wait til this next interview was over before making a decision.  It’s going to be a hard one to make if I’m offered this second position…stay tuned.

I’m heading to NC this week to take care of some business related to my vehicle.  I’m going to visit with some friends and enjoy the beach combing and front porch cocktail!  Hopefully we’ll have some tuna on the grill!

Next weekend is the Kidney Awareness Walk for DaVita.  I still plan to walk but my buddy had to cancel so I’m hoofing it alone.  That stinks, but the important thing is that I’m hoofing it.  Hopefully this week I’ll get a few more donations and reach my goal.  Also need to get some snazzy tunes uploaded to my phone to help pass those miles.  It’s a wonderful cause so if you haven’t already, please consider donating.  Follow this link to my donation page.  I know it’s rough out there right now and the pockets aren’t quite as deep as they might usually be, but even a small donation makes a big difference.  You probably know someone who is affected by kidney disease.  The major causes of kidney disease are diabetes and hight blood pressure.  Approximately 26 million Americans currently have CKD, and 90% of them don’t even know it.  This walk is to help promote awareness and education about the disease.

Won’t You Join Me on the KAT Walk? October 19, 2009

As a lot of you know, I’m a Dietitian.  I work for a great company called DaVita.  DaVita is hosting it’s 4th annual Kidney Awareness Run/Walk on November 14th at RFK Stadium in Washington DC.

Since I’m going to be in town now, I’ve decided to get up off my lazy butt and do something useful with my Saturday (and burn a few calories while I’m at it).  I’m going to walk the 5k to support raise awareness about kidney disease.

Working as a DaVita Dietitian is a very challenging and rewarding career.  I see firsthand everyday the effects of this disease and I pray everyday for a cure.

If you are local, please consider joining me for this walk (it’s boring walking alone – but I do have that new iPhone that I can fill with some cool music).  It’s only 5k, and quite frankly, if I can do it, then I’m sure you can too.  If you aren’t local there are other walks scheduled in California, Texas and Virginia.  Check out the link about to see if one is close to you.

If you can’t walk then please consider donating.  It’s for a wonderful cause and working for this company I can honestly say that the money will be well spent.  They care a great deal about their patients and patient education.  Let’s help them work toward prevention!

Here’s a link to my fundraising page!  Together we can make a difference.

“You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” – Mahatma Gandhi

WTF? October 15, 2009

Well, here it is, October 14, 2009.  Where has the time gone?  I feel horrible that I haven’t been blogging lately.  There have actually been quite a few bloggable moments lately, but it’s hard to blog when you share a computer and work, and go to school and are watching all these stupid reality shows.  I need my other life back.  You know, the one I complained about all the time, but managed to fit in my therapy blogging on a regular basis.

There is a lot going on in my life right now.  I’m supposed to be leaving for Chile on October 27….that means packing, getting the dog export certificate and my visa in order.  That also means the last day of work which means, meetings and charting and making sure that all of the loose ends are tied up so the RD I’m covering for doesn’t think I’m a quack!

There’s also the fact that I have a project due for my Cardivascular Nutrition class.  Yeah.  It’s due November 3rd.  I’ve started it.  I want to have it finished before I move.  That’s looking doubtful.

There are friends to see, food to eat and Ren Fest to visit one more time.

Scott’s in town for a conference which has thrown an incredible kink in to a lot of my previously made plans.  I mean, I should spend time with my husband given the fact that I haven’t seen him since June right?

There’s also a small amount of stress related to the fact that my husband is telling me that I should stay in the states rather than move to Chile.   He says it’s terribly expensive and that it will cost us money that we don’t have for me to join him there.  That’s all fine well and good and I wouldn’t mind staying in the States if I knew where we were going to be stationed next so that I knew where to potentially look for a job/house.

There is also the small fact that if I am to continue living in the US for now, that I’m sleeping on a futon in my parents very crowded, very disorganized house and it is driving me crazy.  Don’t get me wrong, I’m very grateful that I have been able to impose on them for all this time, but if I have to stay I’m going to need to buy a bed cause that futon just isn’t cutting it.  So, all that being said….what’s up with you?

Did I mention that I mailed my yarn stash to myself…in Chile….last week.  Uh oh!  LOL.

AND, I’ve decided not to get the Swine Flu vaccine.  I wash my hands enough and I think that I’m old enough to have had possible exposure to it as a child.  I think I’m just going to wait this one out.  I did however get the regular flu vaccine….courtesy of DaVita.

Stay tuned.

My Life According to Kid Rock September 20, 2009

Using only song names from ONE ARTIST, cleverly answer these questions.  You can’t use the artist I used. Try not to repeat a song title. It’s a lot harder than you think! Give it a try.

Pick your Artist: Kid Rock

Are you a Male or a Female: I am the BullGod

Describe Yourself: I am Wrong, But You Ain’t Right

How do you feel: Feel Like Making Love

Describe where you currently live: Jackson, Mississippi

If you could go anywhere, where would you go:  Midnight Train to Memphis

Your Favorite form of Transportation: Rock and Roll Pain Train

Your Best Friend is: American Bad Ass

You and your best friend: Cocky

The weather is: So Hott

What’s your favorite time of day: All Summer Long

If your life was a TV show, what would it be called:  You Never Met a MotherF**ker Quite Like Me

What is life to you: All Summer Long

Your last relationship: Black Chick White Guy

Your fear: Devil Without a Cause

Thought for the day: Bawitdaba

How I would like to die: Pancake Breakfast

My soul’s present condition: Only God Knows Why

My Motto:  Ya Keep On

2009 Summer Beach Bar Classic September 10, 2009

I’d like to start by saying that I THINK a good time was had by all, but I’m not entirely sure!  : )

We started off the event by decorating our T-shirts – so people would know that we were together and that something special was taking place of course.

Michelle and Heahter aka Micellicious and Super Star.

L – Train aka Luke

JMack aka Yours Truly

These pictures are actually taken at the second hole so let me go back and give you hole 1.

There we are, the golfers with our Orange Crushes at Mangos in Rosehaven.  This was my first taste of the Orange Crush, and I must say I really liked it.  Fresh squeezed OJ and LOTS of vodka.  Kind of a healthy version of a screwdriver if you will.

If you look on the bar in front of us you’ll notice our scorecards and the cute miniature mechanical pencils that I found.  We were well prepared for the event.  What wasn’t so well prepared were the rules and I take full responsibility for that.  I also had to apologize for my righteousness which was displayed when discussing the rules after I had started to consume alcohol.  Note to self and others….discuss the rules before the drinking portion of the game begins.

So we were off to the second hole – Thursday’s.  Blue Moon’s for the real players and a Coor’s Light for L-Train.

Next we headed next door to BilVil for the 3rd hole.  Bil and Sandy came out to say hi and offered up Hot Dogs at the turn for our next event!  Food is a great idea and we’ll hear more about food later.  Here we are, enjoying a brew on the deck at BilVil.

My brew was a Backfin Pale Ale by a brewery in Fredneck.  I mean Fredrick, MD.  Good stuff.

Next off to Neptune’s where I decided that I was going to get something to eat.  It was probably 4:30-5pm by this point and all I’d had all day long other than the booze was a bowl of watermelon for breakfast and that just wasn’t cutting it.

Neptunes where in front of us you’ll see the empty plate of zucchini straws which was split at least 3 ways.  That was dinner, which I knew then, and confirmed later in the evening was definitely not enough.  You’ll also notice that Luke looks a little shiny.  I could fix it with Photoshop, but I’m finished doing favors for that guy and you’ll see why later!

Beach Cove was next on the list – Hole 5.  This is where I had the “Neri Sighting”.  Now if you know anything about me and my beach history.  Neri Sightings are usually not a good thing.  This one proved to be uneventful thank goodness.  The best plan in case of a Neri sighting is one of three things 1.  RUN

2. Ignore

3. Limit exposure

For this sighting I chose to combine numbers 2 and 3.  Very effective.

The crew inside Beach Cove – their menu looks pretty good so we’re planning to return for dinner one night.

Hole 6 – Crooked I, formerly known as Chaney’s.  This was my first time at Crooked I.  I like it.  Anytime you can sit outside and view the water while you enjoy your beverage is a good thing.

Now this is where it really starts to get fuzzy….Hole 7 @ The Freaky Deaky Tiki

I’d like to point out that I am hammered by this point and all of my friends still look sober.  How is that possible?  I guess I’m just really out of practice.

Hole 8 – Smokey Joes

It appears that we have a 5th player now.  I think Billy joined us at Hole 5.  I also notice the shooter in front of me and Michelle and that could not have been a good thing, but I’m sure I made par at that hole!

Last but not least Trader’s – Hole 9

I remember being here.  I remember running my lips to and with Patty, Ann and Katie (sorry guys), and I remember walking back to Michelle’s.  Everything else about it is a blur….I see Luke ditched his shirt at this point which should be an 8 stroke penalty for being out of dress code. AND I see that Heather is missing from the group photo which also should be some penalty, but we’ll have to talk about that when the board convenes later tonight over crabs!

So there you have it the 2009 Summer Beach Bar Classic.  Good time was had by all – at least the pictures make me think so.  I have no idea what my final score was or even if there was a winner but, according to a few of the pictures I’m was the LOSER!  Thanks Luke!  Arrrr.