You can find it all on ebay...

I never thought I would be a fan of ebay, but after my first purchase I was hooked. In June of 2006 ebay started a blog. I had no idea what a blog was or how to blog, but I decided to put in my first entry and so it began. Soon, I was meeting loads of people buyers and sellers alike. Some nice and some not so nice. I actually began a couple of friendships as well. I was leary at first, not sure about the "online" relationship aspect, but I really clicked with a couple of people.

The first person that I really liked talking to was Jeannie. She lives in Oklahoma and has a kick ass sense of humor and wit. I liked her immediately, and I felt like I had known her forever. She and her husband are great people, and I continue to talk to them as much as our work schedules allow. We have never met in person, but there is no doubt in my mind that when we do meet it will seem like a family reunion.

The second person is my BFF Tamara! What can I say about her? I swear we were sisters in a former life. I don't think I have ever known anyone that "gets" me like she does. We routinely complete each other's sentences, and type in the same "smilies" at the same time. I can tell her anything, and I have. I keep no secrets from her, because I know she will not judge me, but she will yank my ass into shape if I step out of line. Today we found out that she has breast cancer that has spread to her spine. The complete extent is unknown at this time, but further testing is to follow. It is hard for me to put into words how I feel about her and this hurdle she has to cross. She is a strong woman and a fighter, and it hurts me to no end knowing that I can't be there to hold her hand as she goes through all of her tests. 3000 miles separate us. I am in Georgia. She is in California. We have never met in person either, but I feel like she has been in my life forever. So as she embarks on this new and frightening journey I want her to know that I will be there for her anytime she needs me. After all, what are sisters for?

So thanks ebay for stealing money from my wallet and giving me my best friend.

Friday! Yay!

Gotta love a Friday off and the first day off of four! The kids are home today and Monday and hubby is off the weekend and Monday too! Lots of family time ahead. We are under a winter storm warning today. The weather channel says to expect 2-3 inches of snow today, so I don't plan on leaving the house once it starts...if it starts. Anyhoo, I've been up since about 3:50am, and Zac woke up about 5am. NOW, he has passed out asleep on the sofa, and so have the cats. What a rough life they lead. Hahaha. So, we have nothing really planned for the weekend, because we are at the mercy of mother nature. The cupboards are full, and we have plenty of blankets, so life is good! Have a great weekend everyone!

Back to Work!

It has been an uneventful day, and tomorrow I head back to work. I'm not complaining, because I am thankful to have a job that I like and people that I like to work with. Every day of work, puts me one day closer to retirement. LOL, Go ME!! I work 2 days then I am off for a 4 day weekend with my favorite people in the world. I am truly blessed.

Taking a look back...

I took a look back this morning at all of the entries into this blog. I was inspired to start one by Amy and Brook. What can I say? I have had the blessing and privilege to reconnect with friends that I haven't seen since high school. It is amazing how although we are much older and hopefully wiser we have clicked back into place. It took me all of 2 seconds to remember WHY we were friends in the first place. Through reading their blogs I have been able to catch up with their lives and get to know their families.

Brook, wow, what can I say? She is one of the strongest women I have ever known. She has overcome numerous personal adversities and has managed to retain her beautiful sense of humor and artistic impression. Years after we had parted ways I kept a dragon she had drawn stuck to my refrigerator by a magnet. The only reason it isn't there now is because after about a million moves I lost track of it.

Now for Amy. I met Amy in the high school choir. I liked her instantly with her funky 80's asymmetrical hair and infectious smile! Can you say BUBBLY personality??? She began calling me "Bean," because she said that "Geri" reminded her of the way a little kid would say "Jelly Bean." So, Bean was it! I remember her calling my birthday in to a local radio station and hearing "Happy Birthday to Bean from Amy!" She always made me laugh! She has been a career woman, and now she has embarked on the most challenging and rewarding career with being a stay at home mom. Anyone that reads her blogs or facebook posts KNOWS that she excels in that endeavor.

I would like to thank both of them for inspiring me and helping me reconnect with my muse...

How can it be?

It seems like just yesterday you were wrapping your tiny fingers around mine. You looked like an angel with the bow balanced precariously atop your almost bald baby head. I nuzzled your neck, and with that I was quite sure I now knew what heaven smelled like. I have watched you grow, and I can't help but look back with regret, because I have not always been the mother that you needed. I can only hope that one day you will bless me with the forgiveness I so clearly do not deserve. I try not to dwell on my mistakes, and I strive daily to meet your expectations and to make you as proud of me as I am of you. We made it through diapers, bed wetting, basketball, softball, and so much more. Now we are buying class rings, preparing for graduation, and looking at colleges. I am so proud of the young woman you have become in spite of me...

Well, it has officially started...

I have been relegated to "uncool mom" status. LOL, Kendra has friends over tonight to watch a movie. How DUMB of me to think that I could actually WATCH the movie too. I will give it to her though, she was VERY diplomatic about it asking, "Where are you going to be while we watch the movie." Hahahaha, I recovered quickly stating, "I'll just hang out in my bedroom and watch a movie." I'm not sure when I transitioned from hang out partner to sideline sitter, but it is ok. She did ask me if I wanted to watch the movie with them, but I know she was only being nice. Kind of like when you ask, "Do these jeans make my ass look fat?" Even if they do, your spouse isn't stupid enough to say, "Why yes. Yes they certainly do." So, I bowed out gracefully retiring to my room for a bubble bath and a movie with the kitties. I feel so old...LOL

REALLY???

In this day, customer service has never been more important. In the ER we have "Press Gainey" scores that monitor our patient satisfaction. I personally HATE it, because it isn't an accurate reflection of how hard you work. Any patients that get admitted don't count in the survey, and those are typically the patients that we spend the most time with, but I digress. Sitting here on my sofa I had the opportunity to see my wonderful postman CRAMMING a package into my mailbox. It is raining today, and I can understand that. I was afraid that the mailbox wouldn't close, and my mail would get wet. As soon as he drove off I went out to retrieve my mail. He had stuffed the box in there so tightly it took me about 5 minutes to extract it. I thought I was going to have to call 911 for the jaws of life!! How hard would it have been for him to walk the 30ft from the street and ring my doorbell?? He got wetter spending the time to cram my shit in the box than he would have walking to the front door. Maybe he was legless or barefooted. I dunno. So much for customer service!!

Why couldn't I have married a "Crazy Cat Man?"

*sighs....I've not ALWAYS had a love for cats. I think it is because I didn't have any of my own, and it is nearly impossible to love someone else's cat. They are so NOT like dogs. Dogs are goofy and will love on pretty much anyone. Cats are a different story. They will usually bond with their "family," and everyone else can pretty much take a hike. Not only did I not marry a man who loves cats, I married a man who is pretty much "anti-fur" altogether, and not in the PETA sense of the word. He was brought up VERY poor, and the animals that they had growing up were not pets they were food. So, needless to say, it has been very challenging to get him to consent to have my kitties. He bonded with Axl right away, but he hasn't bonded with Lily. Axl is pretty much EXACTLY like my husband. LOL, he is quiet and totally NOT cat like in the playful sense of the word. He likes to lay BESIDE you, but not in your lap. Lily on the other hand has got to be in the middle of everything!! She loves to be held and petted, and she can be completely annoying. She infuriates my husband with her antics sometimes, and I think she purposefully does things to get on his nerves. Anyway, with all of that being said, some lovely soul decided to discard the sweetest and VERY pregnant kitty at my house. She is tortoiseshell and has the most beautiful turquoise eyes. I couldn't let her go hungry, so I started feeding her. Tonight it is raining, so Kendra and I made her a bed in the garage. Now, I have to figure out a way to get her INSIDE the house without Mr. Addison freaking out....What to do...what to do......

Do you ever REALLY know anyone??

Wow! What a week! The events of the past week have really made me step back and rethink a lot of things. The first major event was finding out that one of the paramedics I come in contact with was arrested for rape and is being held without bond. Secondly, and most scary I may add, happened yesterday. While at work, we learned that one of our security guards had committed suicide. This being an awful event in itself, prompted a little internet research. Apparently, he committed suicide after being indicted for a strangulation murder of a woman in Ohio back in 1991. DNA had linked him to the case. Also, upon FURTHER internet research, he had also lost a position as a police officer in 2007 while being held under the suspicion in the disappearance of another woman! WHAT THE HELL??? This man was someone we TRUSTED to keep us safe while at work, and by all accounts was friendly, always smiling, etc... Who can you trust? When you apply for a job they check your credit. Why not run a complete back ground check to see if all of the necessary disclosures have been made? I have certainly been taken aback by all of this, and I will definitely be a little more wary of who I trust. You just never know...