Saturday, September 27, 2008

Sadness

This morning as I was sitting outside, enjoying a beautiful fall morning after work, I was inspired to post a blog. Everything seemed right with the world. Then, my perfect morning came crashing down. I logged on to my blog and there on the front page I saw it: Paul Newman dies at age 83. I knew for a while that he was sick with cancer. I last saw a picture of him in People magazine a couple of months ago and he was skin and bone. I knew then that it would not be long. I am deeply saddened. For as long as I can remember he was my favorite actor and star. He had such a striking personality and easy way about him. His suave coolness and his love for the environment and charity made him easy to love and admire. I always thought of the roles he played as a nothing to lose, all out. He had strength, charisma, courage, striking good looks and a big heart. I will never forget him and he will always be my favorite. He will greatly be missed. There will never be another like him. 

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Great day!

Hello!
I knew when I woke up today it was going to be a special day! I had to make a phone call to a prospective job so I did that as soon as I got up and I have great news: I have a permanent nursing job! I am so excited. I have not had a permanent job in nearly a year so I am really looking forward to working every day and then there is the ultimate reward of the steady paycheck! I am stoked. I can get back on track financially.
I start tonight. I go in to work overnight for a month then I will hopefully go to the three to eleven shift.
Today is the second day of fall and I feel great. My birthday is in October so I am a fall baby and I feel a surge of energy every year at this time. I do not know if it is the clear blue skies, the cool, crisp air, the turning of leaves or what but I just love it all. I am looking forward to working this fall and preparing for the holiday season.

Friday, September 19, 2008

Good Morning

Good Morning,

So far I have not done anything much today. Wasted time, did some writing, and thought, alot. Nothing particular, just random musings. Planned, dreamed, fantasized, wondered. It is a beautiful day today. The sun is out, the sky is blue, I should get out and get some exercise and fresh air. Since Hurricane Ike the weather has been just beautiful. Cool clear skies, and a wonderful temperature. I need to make my coffee so I can start my day. Like my daddy always said, " You're burning daylight...."

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Post Hurricane Ike

Well it has been a whirlwind literally. Since Hurricane Ike made landfall on Saturday morning life has been so surreal for me. I feel so blessed that our apartment survived with no damage and mom and I are safe and uninjured. We have no power but we have been doing well in spite of that. We have a battery operated tv and radio and flashlights and candles for the evening. Thankfully the weather has been so cool so it has not been bad without a/c.  The apartment complex has been having block parties so we have been eating well and that is a huge blessing. It has been such a wonderful outpouring of community. It is so refreshing to see neighbors helping each other and everyone coming together to make sure everyone's basic needs are being met. This is the way it should always be. Not just in the midst of a disaster, but every day. Everyone is so friendly now and open to conversation and being helpful. It is like the hurricane blew in winds of community and getting out of comfort zones and thinking of something besides oneself and getting ahead. It has been wonderful. I know that is a very utopian way of thinking that this can continue but it would be wonderful. Somehow life has slowed down and is so much simpler now. I know I have made a resolution to continue my simplified way of living long after the storm and recovery effort is over. 

Thursday, September 11, 2008

9/11 and Hurricane Ike

I spent today watching the news about Hurricane Ike and preparing for the storm, thinking and remembering 9/11/01. I made up my mind to never forget and to honor that day and the significance of what it meant to me living in America. I think alot of people have kind of forgotten or have pushed it out of the minds since it has been some time. I see that in the way that the memorials were not televised and has been approached in the media today as an afterthought. The History Channel had some good programs on tonight about it though. Mom and I watched them. A lot of the footage was new and presented in a new way. That was refreshing. I learned alot from them. As I watched mesmerized, it was almost like I was reliving it all over again. I had the same butterflies in my stomach and panic welling up in my throat. The memory of that day that is most poignant for me is watching the video of when the first tower came crashing down and you see the wall of smoke rolling over the city and you hear the high pitched beeping. I never have forgotten that sound. To me it is an eerie sound and a sound that makes me very sad at the same time. That is the beeping of the fire fighters alert that they wore on their uniforms to aler that they were in danger. I cannot help but imagine that every beep symbolized one brave firefighter down under all the rubble. They were brave and courageous and admirable for putting themselves in the line of fire literally, to save others. Soon after, the brave and courageous became the fallen that I still and always will remember. God bless the men and women of 9/11/01.

Monday, September 1, 2008

A relaxing evening

Today was a really great day. I spent the day studying Microbiology and the evening I enjoyed my favorite meal of crusty french bread and salami and white cheddar cheese with a wonderful glass of Cabernet Sauvignon. Heavenly! For dessert I had dark chocolate truffles. They melted in my mouth. The spice of the wine and the sweet acidity of the truffle was a perfect marriage. It made me feel so elegant and so luxurious and pampered. The summer was so hard on me, this meal was a welcome treat. It really helps put everything into perspective what really matters to me and what does not.