Latest Knitting project

Well Ive finally done it completed another knitting project. It was super quick! Not sure if you can make out patter but it is a dropped stitch scarf, Row 1- knit one wrap yarn around needle once, knit next stitch. Complete until end of row, Row 2 knit all stitches but wrapped yarn let it "drop" Row 3 same as Row 1 but instead wrap yarn around 2 times and Row 4- drop wrapped yarn again. Row 5- around 3 times and in row 6 let yarn fall knit all stitches but wrapped yarn. I had fun making it and really should do it more often and finish all my other projects; but I am however working on a new one I just started tonight, a hat for a Coworker who was just diagnosed with breast cancer. :( Itll be made out of 50% alpaca and 50% silk, nice and soft for a bald head :)

Calling...

Several times in life one faces their "spiritual calling" I think for me and those like me (Nurses) it is hard to balance spiritual with other aspects of their life. I am not referring to religious because there is a difference. I am talking about the connection you feel with people when you see them at their worst, and at their best. It is the giving of one self to care for others. Now granted there are days and times where it is so hard to be there wholly but I certainly try. So many of my aspects of my job are hard to stomach, Child protective services cases for abused children, children with cancer, children who have chronic medical conditions requiring constant surgery. I see family dynamics change for the better and worse. Most parents are involved some arent, both aspects have there pros and cons. I think being a Nurse in general is especially hard, try caring for a patient population that cannot verbalize their pain, discomfort and distress.

On top of all of this I have to get all my charting done, manage my career goals- RN II status, committee meetings, involvment on policy reviews, and other political stuff that goes a long with jobs.

I just wish some days I could just go and not have to worry about any of the other miscellaneous crap, and just focus on my patients and get paid adequately. At this point I am getting proficient and able to function with limited involvement from other RNs, Charge RNs and it is a comforting feeling. However, one can never be to comfortable in this profession because at a moments notice things change!

Thats my little soapbox, hope it was helpful to the insight of my job. :0)

SF in city

Well my family and I went to SF last weekend. It is such a pretty place to be at Christmas time, just like the song "Christmas in the city" It wasnt a spure of the moment planning but almost. We took BART there and walked a few blocks to the Union Square where we went to Cheesecake Factory and then wandered around Macy's and went Ice Skating after dinner. It was great! Heres some pictures...(Its so hard to put the pictures in order on this website so sorry for random order)

Life

Well as it turns out I have changed over the last year significantly. I am not the same care free, positive person I used to be. It has a lot to do with moving out, and learning how life really works. I dont enjoy life any more and am frustrated by the littlest things. Dogs, boyfriend, family. Etc.
The biggest part of it is losing my grandpa this year. I knew it would be hard, I saw it coming and yet I am still having a hard time with it. There isnt a day that goes by that I dont think about him and how much I miss him.
I hardly work leaving a lot of down time to think, be bored and dig my debt hole even bigger by shopping unnecessarily. I would give anything to have no debt and be making more money. Which I why I always keep my options open.
My house is always clean because I have nothing else to do, and I am pretty much caught up on all my projects.
Anyways work is going fine. I just hate my life. Nothing new and exciting.
(Mom dont want any questions- take it for what it is)

One year!

Well I cant believe its been a year already that Ive been working at Childrens hospital. I have my annual review next week. In that time I have met many new people learned a whole lot about Pediatric Nursing. Not that kids are new to me but being a nurse to children was not something Ive ever done before. Its so second nature to me I cant see myself doing anything else, ever! Im sure Ill pursue my goal of teaching or management but I will most certainly do a part-time or per diem as a floor nurse for a long time! Ive gotten a promotion to RN II! and all in all I am satisfied with my career at Childrens Hospital of Central California. I know though its slow progress there, if I want to achieve my goal soon I have look elsewhere. I am one to always keep my options and mind open to new and exciting opportunities. I might be branching into one of the clinics at work per diem, which will help fill my down time and my pocket book. :) My boyfriend and I are settled in nicely in our house, but not sure were going to buy it. Now one of my friends tells me shes bidding on homes in Rocklin, Central Valley for me? Sure why not...Will keep you posted on anything else thats new and exciting in my life!

Two new books to keep me busy...

Im not an avid reader but I figure I need to keep myself busy with something and reading is good for the mind right? ! Ill have time to squeeze it with all my knitting projects and such.

Just another gorgeous sunrise on my way home from work

Friends Baby blanket

Had a friend who was having a baby, hes half filipino and caucasian and the mom has a cynical sense of humor and went with a monkey theme for her shower and for baby's room. So I made her a quilt, its got monkeys! I was going to actually quilt it but the Monkey pattern came ready made at Joann's Fabrics so my work was way easier! It took like 20 minutes. I couldnt post it when I made it because she would have seen it, but its hers now!

Congrats Tiff!

"Don't Stop Believing" - Glee - cover

Hummel Hummel, Morse Morse

Just a random thought. For years Ive wondered what it meant, growing up in a mostly German way it was just something we said, I was told several times by my grandpa what it meant but never really remembered. I decided to look up the story and this is what I found.

That it was about a man named Hans Hummel, the last water carrier in Hamburg for whom families did not have any plumbing yet, the children of the area would chase after him and shout "Hummel, Hummel" and he would reply: "Morse, Morse" (Ass, Ass). If you visit Hamburg you will see 100 colorful Hummel, Hummel statues all around Hamburg. Heres a few pictures from when I went.

I think both of these were in the Hamburg Hauptbahnhoff, (train station)

Gheorghe Zamfir - Einsamer Hirte

Phil Collins Farewell Tour - Drums and "Take Me Home"

Ziplining!

Oops I forgot to post this! A while back my brother and I went ziplining. It was fun! A different kind of thrill than that of the skydiving we did in May. We found a place called Mt. Hermon in Santa Cruz, its $80/person/1.5 hours. In my group there was another Miranda! Same body build and age too funny! Anyways heres some pictures!The whole groupThe two Mirandas! Practice makes perfect!

The scariest part! Crossing this bridge!

Awesome picture

Well I had the rare opportunity to have a Praying Mantis on my palm tree outside my house, yesterday and today. So this evening I decided to snap a few photos. Oh how I love my camera!

New Additions

Not another dog I promise! If I forgot to tell you about them oops! Sorry!

Meet Curly, Larry and Moe

Ratatouille!

I would have to say this last year I have really blossomed when it comes to cooking now. The other day I made a Peach Cobbler from scratch. Thanks Paula Dean!
and today while watching the movie (yes the kids movie) I decided to make Ratatouille for dinner. If you've never seen the movie then Ill tell you what it is.
Its a French peasant vegetable dish.
Has a nice tomato puree on the bottom and then alternated layers of Eggplant (wont do that again) yellow squash and zucchini. I added a jar of roasted red peppers in oil (no oil) to one can of tomato puree for my red sauce, a little red wine (2tblspns), 1 tblspn garlic and let it simmer for about 15 minutes. I preheated my lasagna pan first then added my ingredients. While the pan and sauce were going I sliced my vegetables. Some receipes call for carrots I might try that next time. I added a few extra tomatoes from my garden for color and flavor. and oops I didnt have it and forgot it at the store, but it called for parchment paper on top, I just left it alone and added some Fontanella cheese. Also a few sprigs of thyme on top for seasoning.

Before ovenAfter Oven at 275 for 60 minutesPlated (warm plates from oven...) I also made some fried chicken to go with it, since I knew just the vegetables wasnt going to be enough, cant forget a green salad too!

Ratatouille!

Mr. & Mrs. 9/12/10

Bride- Mertled, Groom, Daniel, Melissa (my best friend) me!

The groom and bride

The bride and her mother

Mr & Mrs 9/11/10

Good friends Chris and Jessica decided to finally tie the knot! Heres some photos from their special day, 9/11/10 I would want the colors, outside and music that they had!

Eat, Pray, Love - Amigo Reader - How we read now.

Eat, Pray, Love - Amigo Reader - How we read now.

The Last month,

So I just finished my month in the NICU, it was good! I never thought when I became a RN that I would be 1) a Night nurse! 2) and a NICU nurse. Its actually the two things I refused to do, however things dont always work out as planned do they?! LOL! I'm actually adjusting to NOC shift and enjoying it, I also enjoyed the NICU! I made new friends and got to explore being a different type of nurse. Got to stretch my wings and be versatile! It makes me feel good to branch out and become experienced in another area. Any who my younger puppy got his manhood taken away yesterday so im getting to play nurse at home too! Anywho that all thats new with me, no other issues, and I dont want them! Im tired of drama and life throwing curve balls at me! Time to get positive and grow stronger so I can be happier!

-M

Ugh,

Life is so busy lately! I think it has really taken its toll on me, any who I am persevering and trying to stay on top of everything. Will be in NICU this month, hopefully they wont need me for much more after that...Its kinda monotonous.

-M

In the Dog House

Just Kidding, a while back when I went home for a few days while my parents/family was in Alaska I decided to build my boys a dog house. Heres a few pictures. Suprisingly I needed no extra materials. It was all at my parents. I bought nothing and did it all on my own. (proud pat on my back)

Still experimenting with cooking

Chicken salad with pine nuts, black olives and artichoke hearts.

1 can chicken
2 tbsp of pine nuts
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1 1/2 tbsp mayonnaise
1 tbsp mustard
2 tbsp chopped black olives.

mix together, serve chilled

http://allrecipes.com/My/RecipeBox/PersonalRecipes/AddEdit.aspx?folder=0

Afternooon spent at home, out of the heat!

Well I guess it was predicted to get about 105 today, I wasnt up to doing anything and shouldnt be out spending money and I knew I had a ton of fabric waiting to become projects rather than fill a box. So...I made a few things.
Table cloth
and pillows for the guest bed...