Thanksgiving Frivolity!

I arrived in Pendleton for my Thanksgiving holiday on November 20th. I was so excited because my whole family was going to present, the likes of which has been difficult to achieve since we have all dispersed ourselves across the U.S. "trying to make better lives for our posterity" or something. To back up a little bit - a few weeks before the trip I had bought myself a gray valour sweatsuit. Feeling a little bit like a grandma, I hesitantly purchased the sweatsuit because it was affordable, soft, and what can I say COMFORTABLE! After wearing said sweatsuit I discovered IT WAS SO WORTH IT and immediately decided that all the women in my family needed one. I took it upon myself to supply them with this valour sweatsuit of dreams knowing that during our Thanksgiving binge-fest it would be all too important for us to have comfortable lounging equipment. I bought one for Heather, Melanie (brother's wife) and my Momma! Shortly after saying my hellos and getting slightly settled at my parents house I couldn't resist distributing the merchandise. They were, of course, a hit and a ridiculous picture taking fest ensued. Please enjoy the following photos as I briefly paraphrase the verbiage that was exchanged. Beware, they are numerous and not for the young and innocent! Nonetheless the hilarity cannot go unshared. The world must know.

We will start out the "gray valour sweatsuit of dreams photo shoot" with what we can call a "normal" pose.
*please note that I am leaving out 10-15 pictures that show the complete progression of ridiculosity (yes, I just made that word up) - however, what is shown here is entirely sufficient*

At this point, I think it was something to this extent "What should we do next, huh?! huh?! huh?!" "I know, we could sit on laps!" "yeah!!" Meanwhile, Spencer (Heather's husband) does his best to repel the cheesiness whilst remaining an excellent photographer.

"Vogue". Need I say more?




And then, the moment that altered the course of the entire Thanksgiving Holiday. The dreaded Pyramid. Yes folks, you've guessed it. We decided that a pyramid would be all too appropriate for the mood of our "gray valour sweatsuit of dreams photo shoot". Melanie and I suggested that Heather be on top since she is the smallest. Heather was concerned about hurting us since she has "boney" knees. But Melanie and I insisted that we were tough enough and it would be okay. So Heather did what she had to do - she climbed on.

It didn't stop there though, her concern persisted and she tried to put it into words. Being of Wendler descent it was difficult for Heather to express herself. So she just blurted out what she was trying to say........and out came: "Am I boning you?"

Watch and enjoy as the laughter progresses for about 5 minutes. All were with tears in theirs eyes except Spencer, who just kept taking pictures. What follows are the best captured pictures of the most gut-wrenching laughter I have personally experienced in a long time.

Here I think Heather was "trying to explain herself" while continuing to laugh. It's okay Heather - we all know what you really meant...

Yes, after all that, we attempted the pyramid AGAIN!!!! I would say a success, but not for Spencer who was "in for the kill". The photographer in him had been released and he started barking out orders!! "Heather, move your head to the right. More. More. Now, down a little. Okay, hold it right there."

And here we have it. The animal, who was styling it up in a "gray valour sweat-suit of dreams", that Spencer fiercely pierced in the head with an arrow! SUCCESS!! (on SO many levels!)

My running Pal, Kathryn!

When I traveled to Oregon for Thanksgiving, I stopped in Portland to reunite with my old running buddy who has long since deserted me - leaving me in Houston to brave the runs alone! We went on a great rain run along the Columbia River in Portland. It was cold, wet, rainy, painful, and delightful! We ran somewhere between 9 and 10 miles. I will call it 10! Ha! I really miss Oregon and it was so great to see so much of Portland - even if it was gray and rainy! We took this picture at the end of the run. I am pretty sure Kathryn hates it but I think we look victorious! I sure miss you Kathyrn! It was awesome to see you again and get in a good hearty run! Wish we could have spent more time together! Maybe someday John and I will kidnap all of our friends and family and keep them on our property deep in the mountains - somewhere nobody will find them! MUAHAHAHAHA!!!!

Pedernales Falls State Park

A long while ago, around the beginning of November John and I went to Austin with some friends. We had planned to hike at a state park just west of Austin and then go to a comedy theatre in the city that night. Well, the term "planned" can be used loosely. John planned the event. I was not aware that it was going to happen until the day before! There was a ton of junk that I needed to tend to and I was leaving for a long Thanksgiving break shortly after this. Plus, our car had been in and out of the shop and was late on its state inspection. John's scooter was broken - AGAIN and I am sure some other things went wrong. I started out as a party pooper for this reason. I am always asking John to plan things but then when he does I am a poop about it! Something I need to work on! Anyway, we had a rough morning before we left and still couldn't pass the inpsection. John and I were both grumpy and the thought of a three hour ride with three people crammed in the front of this red truck shown below was not exciting. We left Houston WAY later than we had planned, but we were determined!

In this picture we were trying to take an angry picture in hopes of doing a "before/after" thing. You know, angry before the hike and chipper after. Anyway, we had this guy who "crashed" at his friends house the night before take this picture for us. Awkward to begin with but we were all trying to look mad and were laughing. We got a couple of good angry ones, which as it turns out aren't as cool now that I have this story......the best part about this photo session was the friendly stranger who, after taking 5-6 pictures, politely informed us that we weren't smiling! Ha!

At the park prior to the hike. Another clencher to the great mood was that amidst trying to get the heck out of the house and load John's scooter in the truck I asked John to grab the dog leashes when he went to lock up the house. He either didn't hear me, or forgot amidst the rush of getting to Austin ASAP. As you notice in this picture I am using a primitive rope that is wrapped around my hand 15 times. It did the trick!


Me, Aaron, and Walter. Two of John's friends from medical school. Walter is in his residency in San Antonio and he drove up to meet us for the day/evening.

In the element. One with nature...

Little Chester. Also one with nature.

The bluffs. Charlie is trying to get up to me. He gets very concerned when I climb things. Rightfully so, I suppose!


The turn around point. So pretty, even in the fall! I imagine it is very lush in the spring and summer.

SUCCESS! So much fun! Thanks to John for planning it!

Look! There's a Loogie in my bedroom!

First things first - a loogie is a lizard. It is the way that my little friend Grace said lizard back in the good old days when she was my neighbor. So, the story goes: It was just a regular day. Great weather and a nice start to my day with a run. When I returned from my run I was back in my bedroom by the window and I met this little guy:


What was I to do? He wasn't hurting anything. He was just a simple loogie trying to find his way in the world. Besides, I think he looked good on the piano don't you? I thought about doing the catch and release thing, but really needed to get going. So, I went about my business and took a shower and got ready. During my get ready process I found him exploring a little bit!


He moved up to the wall by my piano! Later he even moved up higher and was by a picture we have way up close to the ceiling. I couldn't get a picture of that because at this point the Loogie was making me late! So the Loogie and I made a peace treaty. I agreed to not try to catch him if he agreed to help me out with my mosquito problem! I haven't seen him since - maybe he made a break for it when he found out I have a mosquito problem! Can you blame him!?

What would I say at your funeral?

A few months ago my friend Jennifer posted a blog entitled "what would I say at your funeral". In this blog she proceeded to post pictures of me and talk about qualities in me that she has observed and admired. It brought tears to my eyes and made me feel so very special. So by now Jennifer probably thinks that she got away with it free of any retaliation, but boy is she wrong! I may have procrastinated this, but only so that she will be hit when she is least expecting it!



When John and I first move to Houston, TX we did not know a soul. We were so very blessed to meet several friends who became our family in Texas. Among these friends was Jennifer. Jennifer is a friend of mine who I know because our husbands went to school together. I was blessed to meet this wonderful loving woman and find that she would become a great friend in no time. From the beginning Jennifer treated me as if she had known me forever. She offers herself to anyone and everyone she meets. She redefined the true meaning of service to me. She is the kind of person who offers to do anything and everything for you, just like someone in your immediate family would do. Anyone who knows Jennifer has surely been offered and perhaps accepted services such as: babysitting (kids and dogs), checking mail, rides to appointments, picking up things at the store, making meals, rides to the airport and so on. Jennifer is so overly loving and willing that you don't have to feel guilty for these favors. Again, just like your very own family.

Jennifer is very creative and talented person. She taught herself how to sew and took and industrial sewing class at a college here in Houston. She made curtains for their apartments and big fancy pillows for their couch. She makes things for her friends and her children too. She has made some very cute little outfits for her daughter Grace that look store-bought. She makes goals, accomplishes them and then pretends as if she didn't while telling me "Oh Andrea, you are so good at making a goal and just going for it....blah blah blah". What are you talking about Jennifer!??!?! YOU are the best at making goals and accomplishing them. You fine tune and improve things in every area of your life! You are a dream-woman! You make menus and stick to them. You are organized. You scrub your foot boards with a toothbrush! You are thrifty at the grocery store! You grind your own hamburger for goodness sakes! : ) You take time to do crafts with your little girls! Ever since I met you and Edwin the two of you remind me of that song "Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy and wealthy and wise"! Ha ha! You are EVERYTHING!

Here is Jennifer were her first daughter, Grace. She is a very fun mother.

Jennifer lived in the same complex as me. After she had her first child she would come over to my house frequently for visits. She didn't know what a delight it was to break up the studying with some fun Jennifer and Grace time! She always came over under the premise that she was too frustrated to handle her child. I always thought that was hilarious because she never looked even remotely frustrated! She is so calm, patient and sweet and I just didn't see it! She now has a second child, named Ann after me she said. Let me just express in writing that I am so honored that you love me that much. I am so humbled by your love and appreciate it very deeply.

Jennifer and Ann.

Jennifer: You are so many wonderful things. What's even more special than you being all of these things is that you have the humility to see the grand beauty in others and express it so very freely. I have been showered by your love. Edwin is one lucky man and I think he knows it. Grace and Ann have been blessed by God to have you as their mother. Someday, they will realize that and will possess the qualities to pass that on to their children. I hope you really know how good you are because you are a shining example of a successful person, loving mother, and wonderful friend. Thank you for being my friend. My life is better because you are in it. Thank you so much for the lovely blog you did about little old me. It lifted my spirits and reminded me of what fun we had together. Oh, and by the way: GOTCHA! HA!

Just chillin'

It's the season of great weather here in Houston and Chester and Charlie are enjoying themselves! When it is this nice, we open up our patio doors and put Chester's bed out in a patch of sunlight. He eagerly climbs on for a nice soak, waits until he starts panting and then moves onto the cold tile!

Here he is on the cold tile! Once he cools off on the cold tile, he switches back to the hot bed in the sun! What can I say, the pug knows how to RELAX!!

Here is a great picture of the two of them TOTALLY sacked out!

By the way, no pictures of me and John today! I am sick and John is embracing his inner laziness! Ha ha!

Red Velvet Cake

Last night we had some friends over who recently moved to Houston from Georgia. They cooked Georgia BBQ and it was delicious! I made potato salad and this red velvet cake to go along with the yummy meat!

I ran out of red food coloring when the cake was kind of a dingy pink color. Luckily, it darkened in the oven, but still wasn't quite to right color. Tasted good though!


Actually, the cake was a little too dry for my taste (my fault!). But, the frosting made up for it! The frosting was delicious. It was a cream cheese frosting with half cream cheese and half mascarpone cheese. After mixing the frosting up you folded in 1.5 cups of whipped heavy cream. It was the lightest, airiest cream cheese frosting ever! Yum yum!

Here I am with the cake in all its glory . . . notice my new glasses! I love them!

Chester ponders the devastation by the pool

I just went across the street to One Montreal Place, and the damage over there is much worse. Sections of brick wall have been torn from the side of buildings, and huge stretches of car-port metal roofs have been twisted and torn all along their length like a can of sardines, damaging many vehicles.

I went over to help one of my neighbors clean up a bedroom after the ceiling (filled with water due to missing shingles on the roof) collapsed, spewing insulation and drywall all over the room.

Here are some pictures of Chester pondering these events, by the pool, with his hurricane face on.

More pics

Don't Be Like Ike!

Ike hit us like Tina Turner for about 8 hours last night. We're in southern Houston, just north of the south limb of beltway 610, which is one of the areas that probably sustained the longest and strongest winds and rain in Houston proper. Looking out my window, it was quite a bit more ferocious that what I was seeing simultaneously on the news... probably because the newspeople can't safely stand in or operate their equipment in the truly powerful parts of the storm.

Anyways, we got incredibly lucky... As I said, we were in probably in the worst part of the storm in Houston proper and yet, here I sit... blogging. In fact, although 95% of Houston is currently without power (with hospitals and downtown skyscrapers being the major exception) my apartment complex remarkably did not lose power at all during the storm... I'm not sure how/why. Also, although there is general damage to our complex (roofing, trees, car ports, etc.) our condo and most condos around here seem to be mostly spared of any real flooding or interior damage.

I'm posting some initial photos of the untouched, pristine devastation for those of you who are curious (poor quality snapshots with foggy lens.. and it's still raining). Also, I just wanted to let everyone know that we're okay and much luckier than most, who may be without power for weeks. Andrea is camped out at Memorial Hermann Southwest hospital, tending to the sick. While they have emergency power for medical devices, etc., they have lost main power so lights and air conditioning are out. Thus, say a prayer for Andrea and coworkers as they struggle to take good care of those in need while sweating indoors and using flashlights to see as they draw blood and place IVs (true story).

Will keep in touch,

John

Curses!

I can't believe that I have been checking my cousin Bree's blog regularly only to be tagged in one of these!?!?!?!??! I will entertain....hehehe

A--Attached or Single? Attached, coming up on 7 years!
B--Best Friend? John, Kathryn, Leslie
C-- Cake or Pie? Cake for me, but pie is a good substitute in an emergency situation.
D-- Day of Choice? Any day off.
E-- Essential Item? I don't know! I can't think of anything that I couldn't live without.
F--Favorite Color? browns
G-- Gummy Bears or Worms? No preference really....they generally make my teeth hurt!
H-- Hometown? I grew up in Pendleton, OR
I-- Indulgence(s)? I have to say, lately I have been indulging frequently. But, not in sweets/foods as usual. I have had some time off and have been indulging in being a vegetable. I have been doing things that I could not do if I were working and have rediscovered how AWESOME that is!
J-- January or July? This is a definite January. But only because I live in Houston.
K-- Kids? Not yet, but someday for certain!
L-- Life is Incomplete Without? My husband, family, close friends, laughing, crying, and loving.
M-- Marriage Date? July 7, 2001
N-- Number of siblings? one older bro and sis
O-- Oranges or Apples? I simply cannot choose between the two.
P-- Phobias or fears? Sometimes it feel like I am afraid of everything. When I go on runs outside on the sidewalk I am afraid that a car will drive off the road and impale me up against a brick wall or something. I am afraid to ride scooters. I am afraid of anything that involves likely pain/disability/slow painful death/dismemberment. I am afraid of screwing up at work. Apparently, I live in fear!
Q-- Quotes? "Life is Good" and Sleep is a wonderful thing" - Dad. "Wherever you go there you are" and "Alright! Let's smoke this joint!" - Mom. "Well, when I lived in the Ming Dynasty..." - Charlie. "I am a very small replica of several large water dwelling mammals!" - Chester
R-- Reason to Smile? I am still alive, well, happy, and blessed. I have a WONDERFUL family!!!!!
S-- Season? In Oregon I loved Spring, Summer, and Fall. In Houston, spring is torrential downpour. Summer is hot and muggy and hurricane season. Fall is nonexistent - the leaves don't fall off the trees like they do up north. So I guess that leaves winter which is generally pleasant and cheap (no heating or a/c necessary!)
U-- Unknown Fact? I peed my pants a lot. Like A LOT up to when I was in fourth grade. I vividly remember playing at recess and just having so much fun thinking I could hold it until recess was over. I mean who wants to waste recess on taking a pee!? Then, before I knew it, it was too late. I was crouched down sitting on my foot trying to keep from peeing my pants!! hehehe! Of course, I was usually unsuccessful. The good news is that none of my friends ever knew. SO, I escaped the torment and ridicule....except from my loving family who called me "pee bum". I think it was mostly the "boys" in the family. I know my mom never said that and I am pretty sure my sister didn't! We all laugh about it now!
V-- Very Favorite Store? I have to go with Banana Republic. Their clothes are so classic.
X-- Xray or Ultrasound? Seriously? What kind of question is that?! I don't get it. I am going to change this one to: Xray vision or the ability to be invisible? - I am going to have to go with invisible!
Y-- Your Favorite Food? Delicious things.
Z-- Zodiac? No. gemini.

Did anybody else notice that this skipped "W"?!

See the Resemblance?

Just for giggles, I thought some of you who know our pugs would get a kick out of this resemblance!

My Memorial Hermann Family

Recently, at work the big push has been "Customer Service". Apparantly, it is available for people to get online and look up "patient satsifaction" information when reseraching hospitals...so those with the power have decided to make it a top priority. A week or so after patients are discharged from the hospital they receive a survey in the mail about their stay....I know....just like at restaurant tables - "how was your service" only you just had surgery!!! Those with the power have decided that they would reward excellence in patient satisfaction. Recently, my floor was recognized for being "most improved"! Hehehe! It makes me chuckle a little. Hopefully next time we can get the "sustained exellence" award instead of the "we were kinda crappy, but now we are really good" award! Hahahaha! The only reason I am even talking about this boring stuff is to show you my Memorial Hermann Family. When you spend 40+ hours every week with people they kind of become like family and I recently celebrated my 1 year anniversary at this hospital. The group of us go through some really stressful times together.

So, here is a picture of my 4th Floor Telemetry Crew! Blue is Nurse, Red is Unit Clerk, Brown is Monitor Room (watching heart rhythm all day) and Purple is Nurse's Assistant. We were rewarded for our "most improved" patient satisfaction scores with none other than some candy bars!! I just had to laugh! What do we get for working our tails off, being verbally abused, going and going while eating one time for 30 minutes in a 12.5 hour period, holding all bodily functions hoping that sometime you will get a chance to empty your bladder, hearing your name called 45 times in an hour....??? Two candy bars and a piece of fruit. SO worth it! HA!

Of course you know, what makes it worth it is when your patient is sad that your day off is tomorrow. When you can make them smile or laugh in the middle of a terrible time in their life. When they tell you, you are really more like family than a nurse. When you discharge them, help them into their car and they say "Goodbye, I love you". Those are the real rewards.