Open Mouth, Insert Foot.

As I was getting a manicure and pedicure today, the nail lady was asking me what I do for a living. After I told her I was a nurse, her next question was "Have you ever dated any of the doctors?". Of course I took the opportunity to express my opinions about how doctors aren't really all that great of a catch. They're always at work and never home with you; some of them think they know everything because even though they've had years of education, they still believe d-o-c-t-o-r spells G-o-d; and they often lack elementary social skills since they've spent their entire lives in school cultivating their education rather than their popularity. Next thing you know, my nail lady is introducing me to one of her regular clients who is sitting less than a foot away from me - Dr. Sullivan.

27th Birthday!!

I have now officially entered my "late twenties". I actually feel like a grown up. The new nurses at work started last week, and when we asked how old they were, most of them were only 22. I can't believe that's how old I was when I started working there. I've changed so much in the last 5 years!

Anyway, back to my birthday. We had so much fun! Logan and I fell off the wagon for the night and completely endulged ourselves in the goodness that is Margarita Ranch. Earlier in the day, I kept telling him I was going to still try to eat healthy even though it was my birthday. But once you smell that queso with spicy beef and see those frozen margaritas, you just can't help yourself! After dinner, we went to my favorite bar, The Quarter. Its right behind my apartment, and my friends and I spent many a night there last summer. When I got upstairs, the bartender Chris immediately asked me why I'd fallen off the face of the earth after getting a boyfriend. :) Maybe I need to show them some love and start going back every once in a while. They were always so good to me. Since I haven't been drinking lately, I've gotten back my old tolerance, (aka "cheap date" status) which was quite enjoyable.

The next night Logan took me to my favorite restaurant, Capital Grille. Its impossible to get a bad meal there. I got filet mignon and Logan got Swordfish. I don't know why, but I pictured the fish still having the long sword-like nose attached to it. (Obviously, it did not.) I'd never had swordfish before, but it was amazing. They also have these great martinis. I'm not really a martini drinker, but theirs taste like pineapple juice, so they're fabulous. They cut up about 30 fresh dole pineapples, put them in a huge glass jar, then pour Stoli vodka on top. The vodka soaks up the pineapple flavor, and they're chilled perfectly. Its called a Stoli-Doli, and its the best thing - ever.

Logan got me the entire Sex and the City DVD collection. He claims he is never, ever going to watch a single episode with me. He's "drawn his line in the sand", especially after being teased about buying it by people from work. I think he'll eventually learn to love Carrie, Samantha, Miranda and Charlotte, and he'll be the one begging me to put the next DVD in. My parents, my brother and Jessica got me money for a new iPhone. Haley is taking me for a pedicure, and as for Mike and Leanne - I refuse to tell anyone what they got me. Trust me, you don't want to know anyway...

I did it!!!

Just wanted to make this official (because posting it on a blog does that...) I've lost 10.4 pounds in 5 weeks!!! Wa-hoo!!! Even after my obscene splurge day this week where I conveyer belted eight (yes, eight) pieces of bread at brunch and a bowl of queso (yes, a bowl) at dinner, I still lost 2 pounds this week! When Logan and I started being healthy, we decided up front that once a month we'd have a splurge day to reward ourselves for eating so healthy the rest of the month. While I have to admit, the queso tasted like mannah from Heaven, I've decided I don't want to do a splurge day anymore. I felt like crap for the next couple of days - probably because of all the bread - but still. So from now on, I think my once a month splurge will be one really good dessert. I'm thinking chocolate.... or hey, these days, maybe just another loaf of bread!

Sex and the City: Take Deux

So, technically, I've seen the Sex and the City movie twice now. However, the first time I saw it I was so hopped up on mimosas, I wandered to the movie theatre alone one afternoon and ended up sitting with a group of very friendly women in their 50's. This could have been awkward - especially since they were all Catholic private school teachers - but I ended up actually having a good time. Only problem was that thanks to the mimosas (oh, and the two glasses of wine I had during the movie) I didn't remember a thing that happened in the movie. So Friday night Leanne and I went to see it. Besides the fact that we had constant commentary from the ladies in front of us, the girl next to us apparently applied an entire bottle and a half of some funky smelling perfume (if you can even call it that), smelly girl's boyfriend listened to the Ranger's game during the movie, all the random bursts of applause and shouts from the multitudes of drunken women, and the sight of an 87 year old white headed woman with the biggest bouffant hair-do I've ever seen - we had a fabulous time! Leanne even laughed out loud a couple of times during the movie. If you know Leanne, you KNOW that doesn't happen unless its really, really good. So now for my birthday, I'm asking for the complete boxed set of all the Sex and the City seasons. I've held off buying it this long thinking the re-runs on TBS and the CW were good enough, but now I've just gotta join in all the hoopla have the real thing at my beck-and-call. Just two more weeks till my birthday!

Too good to pass up

Now presenting:

The leader of the free world.

The most powerful man in the country.

The head of the Executive Branch of the Federal Government.

The Commander in Chief of the armed forces.

I give you, The President of the United States of America!!!!

Somehow, "Dubya" just seems to suit him better...

And now, just for fun, because this is truly the only thing I will genuinely miss about having him as our President: Dubya Speak!

"I'll be long gone before some smart person ever figures out what happened inside this Oval Office."
Washington, D.C., May 12, 2008

"Families is where our nation finds hope, where wings take dream."

LaCrosse, Wisconsin, Oct. 18, 2000

"I've been — since I've been your President, I want to remind you we have been through a recession, we have been through a terrorist attack, we have been at war, we have had corporate scandals, we have had major natural disasters."
Maryland Heights, Missouri, May 2, 2008

"I can press when there needs to be pressed. I can hold hands when there needs to be — hold hands."

White House, Jan. 6, 2008

"He's a good man."
Comment about his dog Barney, Barbara Walters interview, Dec. 4, 2001

"For every fatal shooting, there are roughly three nonfatal shootings. Folks, this is unacceptable in America, We're going to do something about it."
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, May 14, 2001

"Diseases... such as arthritis and osteoporosis can be less be-a, be-a-dilatating."
Mar. 21, 2001

"There's a huge trust. I see it all the time when people come up to me and say, 'I don't want you to let me down again.'"
Boston, Massachusetts, Oct. 3, 2000

"We got an issue in America. Too many good docs are gettin' out of business. Too many OB/GYNs aren't able to practice their — their love with women all across this country."

"I think it's very important for the American President to mean what he says. That's why I understand that the enemy could misread what I say. That's why I try to be as clearly I can."
Washington, D.C., Sep. 23, 2004

"As yesterday's positive report card shows, childrens do learn when standards are high and results are measured."
New York, New York, Sep. 26, 2007

"Laura and I really don't realize how bright our children is sometimes until we get an objective analysis."
CNBC, Apr. 15, 2000

Random facts about me...

Well, I've decided to hop on the bandwagon and start my own "official" blog. I thought it would be nice to have a journal of some sort to keep track of the things that are happening in my life. (Honestly, I'm just procrastinating going to the gym... but that's neither here nor there.) So without further adue (is that how you spell it??), my first blog post: Random facts about me!

1. I hate old movies. I don't care how good they are. I can't sit through them.

2. I used to be addicted to Peanut M&M's. Addicted. I realized I had a problem when work friends would give me the pound bags because they saw them on sale at the store and thought of me. This happened more than once.

3. I love reading. I can read an entire book in a day. I read a lot of chick-lit, but lately I've been trying to broaden my horizons. I recently read a book all about Ted Bundy (which was quite tedious), and after that decided I wanted to go back to my warm and fuzzy chick-lit books.

4. In second grade, I won the school wide reading competition, meaning I read the most books during the school year. My winning number? 1,257!! Yep, that's right. And all they got me for my "reward" was a T-Shirt designed like a jersey with the number 1257 on the back. If that doesn't get you beaten up, I don't know what does.

5. Seeing as how I'm not the atheletic type, the only trophy I've ever gotten was for said book reading competition. After receiving the T-Shirt, I cried and cried because I really thought I'd get a trophy of some sort to show my friends. Having the amazing parents that I do, I had a surprise trophy - engraved and everything - waiting for me at home.

6. Although I'm not atheletic, by the grace of God (or a glitch in the system, one never can tell...) I made the cheerleading squad in Jr. High. I loved every second of it! I was even nominated Homecoming Queen, and on occasion still wear my crown around the house when having a particularly bad day. Kidding. Or am I.....

7. I love bread. I recently joined weight watchers to learn portion control and how to eat healthy, and all this time I thought my "problem" was my sweet tooth. Turns out the sweets have been easy to kick. Its the freaking bread! I miss home-made tortillas like nobody's business.

8. I still count on my fingers.

9. I have the craziest dog, hands down. Never in my life have I met another dog with even close to the personality that Lucy has. She has two speeds. Zero, and 160. She's never in between. I recently caught her wearing my swimsuit - and she got it on by herself. 'Nuf said.

10. I am extremely loyal to my family and friends, and completely overprotective of my little brother.

11. I love Queso with spicy beef from Margarita Ranch. (Thanks, Jesus!!)

12. I love the chicken fajitas from Margarita Ranch.

13. I love the margaritas from Margarita Ranch. My special creation is the frozen lime margarita with sangria swirl, plus an extra shot of tarantula tequilla on top. 14 weight watchers points each, if you're curious - and the catalyst responsible for my weight watchers membership. (You thought it was the M&M's, didn't you?!?)

14. Nursing school was one of the hardest things I've ever done in my life.

15. I love my job. Hate the work politics, but when it comes right down to it, when I'm actually just nursing and doing my job, I couldn't be happier. Its such a special gift to be able to be there for a patient and their family when they're going through a difficult time.

16. Logan and I want to have great danes. The timing of this venture is yet TBD, but it may happen in a year or so... A girl and a boy, Stella and Duke. (Those are my choices, but I do also like Marley...)

17. I LOVE to haggle. Logan's car recently got stolen, and I had a blast going car shopping for him, haggling over prices, and then taking him to the place I got the best deal. What girl does that??

18. I can't keep plants alive. Its unbelievable how fast they die in my care. (Fortunately this hasn't crossed over into my nursing career.) When I went to college I bought a potted plant that I named Pete since I couldn't have a pet in the dorm. Pete always looked so sickly, and I'd frequently have to take him home to my parent's house for my mom to nurse back to health. Then she'd give him back to me, and I'd nearly kill him again. After freshman year, Pete went to live with my parents permanently, and would you believe he's still flourishing 9 years later?? I'm not allowed near him.

19. I asked for an overhead projector for Christmas - several times. How cool are those things???? (Never got one.)


20. I also asked for a cash register, but alas, managed to get some fischer-price toy one instead. I wanted the real thing! I'd get so excited when we went to Office Max because I'd get to "pick out" what cash register I'd buy if I only had the money. I was an odd child.

21. I love lime. Put it on just about anything, and I'm happy.

22. I love ketchup even more. Put it on everything and I'm thrilled.

23. When I first got braces in 5th grade, my orthodontist must not have been considering my upcoming journey into Jr. High because he did the unthinkable. He only put brackets on my front two teeth. For a long time. Imagine me like that, and wearing my "Super Reader" shirt with permed short hair. (There will not be a picture posted for this.)

24. I knocked my brother's front teeth out right after we'd been to the dentist.

25. One of my favorite things is the smell of a bookstore. Especially now that they all have Starbucks in them.


26. Speaking of smells, I love the smell of fresh laundry. Who doesn't love curling up under a warm, fresh-from-the-dryer blanket with a good book on a rainy day?

27. I love going to the movies. Especially now that I have my own money and can buy popcorn and a Coke if I want it! (My dad always said the concession stand was a rip off and refused to contribute to its profits.)

28. Logan and I just bought a Wii and I'm quickly becoming addicted to Wii Tennis and Mario-Kart.

29. I LOVE Boston, and would love to live there someday. I've never particularly enjoyed history, but its a whole lot more interesting when you're seeing the things you've spent your life reading and learning about.

30. My great-grandmother came to Texas in a covered wagon. How crazy is that??