Work, work, work....Change, change, change....

Heading back to work tomorrow. This will be my last weekend of working in the "old" ER. We officially move to the "new" ER on June 1, and I am excited and a little bit nervous. It is BEAUTIFUL, and in my 16 years of nursing I have NEVER worked in a brand new area. So, I think it is about time. The new ER is quite a bit bigger and a whole lot different than what we are used to, so it is stepping out of our comfort zone a LOT, but change for the better is a good thing, and we work hard, and we deserve a nice new work area. I am very proud of the place that I work and the job that I do. I am blessed to have great co-workers that understand the meaning of a TEAM. Sorry for all of the run-on sentences, but it is late, and I am ready for bed. Have a great weekend!

One step closer to death or dismemberment...LOL

I've always been a little frightened of motorcycles. My husband recently got one, and I thought, "Hey, I may enjoy riding one of these things." I made the HUGE ass mistake of actually VERBALIZING that out loud in front of him, so this morning, he said, "Let's go take the written test to get our permits." He has had one before, but it has lapsed. I have never had one before, but apparently I have lapsed as well, because I went along with him for kicks and giggles. He had been asking me questions from the book for the past few nights to help himself study, so I never thought I would have a dog's chance in hell of passing, and I didn't think he really did either. Not only did I pass, but I only missed 2 questions. You can miss a total of 5 and still pass. Hubby missed 4, so in all actuality I did better than he did, which I have not let him forget ALL DAY LONG. LOL, Anyhoo, we then went to try on bikes. He already has his, but I don't have one. The permit is good for 6 months. I had done some research on the internet on the top 10 starter bikes, and decided that would be a good place to start. We started at the Yamaha shop. I like the V-star 650. It has good balance, and it isn't too heavy. THEN we went to the Harley Davidson Dealership where I met my soulmate. LOL He came in the form of a 2009 Orange and Black Retro Sportster....I think I'm in love....I should have taken a pic....I'll try to get one from their website....He completes me....too bad he is so damned expensive....a girl can dream right????

Anyway, the Harley Dealership actually teaches a comprehensive 3 day class that teaches you how to ride and they let you ride one of their bikes. I think that is the route I am going to go, so I can get my license, so when my soulmate is ready for me, we can hook up properly. LOL

Sunday Morning...

Wow, what a beautiful morning! I love the colors of nature! The bright green of the trees against a backdrop of sky blue highlighted by the bright rays of the sun causing mist to rise as it takes a drink from the earth in a futile attempt to parch it's dry throat. MARVELOUS!!!! The wonders of the world never cease to amaze me. The birds are awake and searching the leaves for their breakfast while the squirrels scamper around with their mouths full of nuts or some other hidden treasures. While the world is yawning and stretching performing it's homage to the sun, I find myself doing the same, and praising the creator for giving me the privilege of another day. Another day to bury my face in my sons hair, to look at my daughter's beautiful smile, and to drop a kiss on my husbands bald head.....Life is good!!!

Just some Random Thoughts About Religion...

My husband and I took a rather lengthy ride on the motorcycle today. We rode to a small town called Pine Mountain, and the ride itself was actually beautiful. It gave me time to think about a lot of things. As I surveyed the beautiful scenery it's creator was foremost in my mind. I was raised in a tiny church called Reedy Creek Baptist Church. It was a very small church and the environment was more family like than anything. It was our social scenes as well. The pastors there, I remember 2, were soft spoken and weren't the hellfire and brimstone Bible beating type that are depicted in so many movies of southern churches. I know there are preachers like that, but I am so thankful that I wasn't exposed to that type of environment as a small child. Now, as I grew older, I went to different churches and did have the misfortune of encountering this type of "preaching." Basically telling me that if I wasn't in church every time the doors open that I was going to suffer an eternity of pain and suffering in a never ending hell.

My concept of the Creator may differ from yours, but it doesn't mean I am wrong. I believe in an "Afterlife," but I also believe in a "Before life." I may not be "religious," but that doesn't mean I am not a spiritual being. How can one look at all of that surrounds us and not believe in a greater power? Just because I don't put a name to mine, or carry a Bible doesn't make me wrong. I feel the presence of the creator all around me at all times. I choose to not go to church. I don't need the approval of other humans. I don't need someone to say, "Hey, Geri is a great person, because she goes to church." How many times to you see people tossing back martinis at the local watering hole on Saturday night only to show up at church on Sunday morning? So what if you talk it if you don't LIVE it.

I am who I am. I wear a rose quartz crystal around my neck, because I like the energy I derive from it. It's perfectly formed cool edges comfort me, and yes, I believe that natural crystals have healing energies as well. I believe in the basic 5 elements earth, air, fire, water, and finally Spirit. I pray. I know I will see my mom and grand parents again. I also know that they have truly never left me. I believe that spirits will try and make contact. Do you listen?

Thunder....

.....what a beautiful sound. Right now, the world outside is a strange green color, and the sounds of nature are becoming forceful demanding that I take a look, smell the smells, appreciate the wonder, beauty, and power. So I do. I take a deep breath and close my eyes, and I feel the power. I am nothing but an insignificant speck in this great big world, but I am so honored to be here....

Overcast....

Today is very overcast...I'm not sure if it is going to rain or not...Sure is making me sleepy...Sure is making me use lots of periods...Sure is..........

Ride Like the Wind...

...I wasn't sure if everyone would be interested in reading about my motorcycle "adventures" or not, and I was undecided as to whether or not I should begin a new blog. For now, I will continue my bike adventures here. Hubby and I went on a ride today for about 1.5 hours. We rode to a nearby lake and dam. We love to go there in the car, but the experience by bike was completely different. Today is a bit overcast and it is looks as if there may be a storm trying to develop. Today the fragrances were a bit different for me, and the sights were a little bit different as well. The smell of rain assaulted my nostrils mixed with honey suckle and freshly turned earth. If only I could bottle that smell. What a comfort it is to know that there IS a higher power out there that truly does appreciate the finer things in life, and that feels us worthy enough to share in them as well. Call "him/her" what you will, "God, Allah, Buddah, Gaia, etc...." it is all the same. Agree with me or not it doesn't matter. What I experience defies naming. You name your baby, dog, cat, fish....how can you place a name on what defines EVERYTHING??? Anyway, I digress, I have taken a few pictures of my journey today. I hope you enjoy them. I really hate that I didn't get a snap shot of the Osprey?(I think) diving into the water for a fish, or the huge turkey hen that watched us as we drove by. I was too busy watching them in amazement. Life is certainly a blessing...

Sometimes my Mind Wanders and Wonders...

I am actually chuckling to myself right now. Having just responded to Amy's post about the 411 "robot lady," and her not taking offense at being hung up on, I was reminded of the numerous times that I have accidently bumped into a store mannequin, and before I knew what I was doing found myself saying, "Excuse me" or "OH, I'm so sorry." Life is a funny thing. I think it is all in how we are raised. I was raised saying "yes ma'am, no ma'am, yes sir and no sir," and I find that many people get offended when I use these terms. I do use them everyday in my work, and to me it is a sign of respect. It doesn't matter to me if you are younger, older, or the exact same age as I am. I am amazed at the number of youth today that are being brought up with NO manners at all. I find this so frustrating, and if I found out that my children were disrespectful to anyone in authority it would mean a total throttling for them. No parents, it is not cute for your toddler to tell you "NO" and pitch a fit. It only gets worse as they get older. So, next time you bump into a mannequin, don't forget to apologize...LOL, it just MAY be a real person.

I Now KNOW Why Dogs Hang Their Heads....

.....Out the Windows when they ride.... OK, so as everyone who follows my blog knows, my husband got a motorcycle. "Us a motorcycle" as he puts it. Well, he got the bike on Friday and has been riding it since. Practicing as he calls it since it has been over 12 years since he has been on one. I encouraged this practicing, because he wants ME to ride with him and had me pick out a helmet and purchase it. I prayed to the Ebay gods of slow shipping, but they didn't hear my prayers. My helmet came today, and my husband said, "Let's RIDE!!!!" SOOOOO, I put on some jeans, strapped on my new helmet, took a big dose of courage, and mounted up behind my husband....Hang on he says, so I grabbed a double handful of t-shirt and chest hair and OFF we went!!!

Immediately my senses were overloaded with the smells of spring. Flowers blooming, freshly cut grass, and newly mown hay filled my nostrils and put me into olfactory overload. I would have stood up to get a better sniff had I not flown off the back of the bike and died in a tangle of broken limbs, bone marrow, and denim...As we drove into town, I was assaulted by the smells of diesel, exhaust fumes, and tar. While different than the initial smells, I didn't find them noxious. I found all of the scents strangely comforting and distracting.

Distraction is a good thing when you are NOT driving, had I been driving I would have missed the asshole that pulled out in front of us and the two deer that ran out in front of us....All in all it was an eventful first ride! WOOHOO!!!!!

A bit of writer's block...

...I'm not sure why. Maybe things are going a bit too smoothly in my life, and I don't know how to deal with it. LOL Perhaps my meds are working like they are supposed to. Imagine that!!!! LOL, I dunno. I'm up early, just biding my time until it is time to get ready to go to field day at Zac's school. It should prove to be a hot one today, but the kids don't care. I remember Field Day from when I was a kid. Lots of running and ribbons and sack races.....I never won much, I didn't care. I was outside and NOT in class! Field Day also symbolized the impending end of the school year. We have exactly 2 weeks left from today, and another school year will have come and gone. My babies are no longer babies, and I am another year closer to having an empty nest. I always thought that I couldn't wait for that to happen, but the closer it gets the more I dread it. My first little bird will fly the nest in 2 years, and is sporting her class ring like nobody's business. LOL. Hubby has decided to quit worrying so much about what is going to happen to us AFTER we get finished working and decided to have a little fun now, so he has decided to buy us a motorcycle. I feel like it is important for us to enjoy the money we make now. You certainly can't take it with you, and we still have plenty for retirement. So, if we can manage to stay ALIVE on the damned thing, it should be a lot of fun for us! A lot of my friends ride, so maybe we can get out more as a couple. I certainly hope so....

My Latest Ink!

I wrote this blog post to match the ink I got last night. It was my Mother's Day present from my family. They asked what I wanted, so this is what I said. Hubby took me and paid. It is a pink breast cancer ribbon done for my friend Tamara. She is going through a rough time right now and it makes me feel just a bit closer to her. We are 3000 miles apart, so I can't actually pop in and out for coffee, so this was the perfect way for me to show her how I feel about her. :)

Feeling a bit better....

....I seem to be on the upswing....for now....I made it through the work weekend once again. I find myself seriously living one day at a time. How cliche I know, but it works, and I know no other way to do it. I never know which "Geri" is going to wake up. LOL I have a meeting tomorrow at work. It is supposed to last for 4 hours. At least I will get paid for it even though it consumes half of one of my 2 days off. I'm going to get my hair trimmed tomorrow...yay me. I lead an exciting life I tell ya! No clue what to do after that. Definitely a shower to wash all of the loose hair off. I can't STAND that! I'm still working on my husband about a dog, so far, it isn't working. If anyone has any suggestions, I will be open to them. I didn't get much Zac time this weekend, so I am looking forward to this upcoming weekend. Friday is field day for Zac, Saturday Kendra has a softball tournament, and Sunday is Mother's Day. I will no doubt, get absolutely nothing, as usual. Yay me!! Maybe I'll get a dog. Maybe hell will freeze over. Maybe another Bush will get elected president. Maybe, maybe, maybe....