Busy, and no camera

Sorry. I've been super busy and (from the title of the post) I can't find my camera. It's somewhere in the maze of boxes that I'm not ready to go through.
So you've missed a lot. There was my Birthday Extravaganza- a 10 day long celebration that kicked me ass (I've never been that exhausted- apparently I can't party like a rock star while working a regular job), the Yankee Party bus, and yes, I have already ordered my Halloween Costume.
A fairly expensive costume. $80! But I. Will. Look. Fabulous! Here's a hint.. I'm as proud as a _________. Can you guess what it is?
Soon I promise that I will steal my Mom and my sister's pictures so that I can photo-document my summer. So check back soon.
Maybe I'll even borrow my mom's camera and capture the memories of a Saturday night with some friends...

Strange

Last night, my sister invited me over for a girls party. Being in the midst of a very stressful week at work, I welcomed the distraction and chance to let loose and relax for a few hours. I got there early and helped Bre set up the tent where she and her friends were planning to sleep. I, on the other hand, was sleeping inside because I need a blaring alarm clock to rouse by bottom out of bed at the crack of dawn. I had a lovely time hanging with Bre and some friends. We enjoyed some fruit punch and roasted marshmallows. Okay, okay, maybe there was some vodka in the fruit punch.
Long story short, I went to sleep much later than planned. I had brought my pillow and alarm clock. Around 12:45, I checked that the alarm was set for 5:30 (barf), pulled back the blankets and nestled into bed, looking forward to a few hours of sleep.
Next thing I know, I wake up and have NO idea where I am. Then I realize that I was at my parents. Confusion quickly rushed back as I remembered my bed time routine from a few hours before; I was not in my parent's guest room. I sat up with a start! Looking around, I quickly recognized my surroundings. I was in my sister's room. And it was 5:04am.
I haven't the foggiest idea as to how I wound up in there. At all. Not to mention how long I was in there or why I ventured in there. I've asked my entire family, and no one can help shed any light on this mystery.
I can't help but wonder, has the significantly increased stress in my life caused me to take up sleepwalking? Here's hoping to a restful night of sleep tonight.

Surprise!

On Sunday, my Uncle Charles threw a surprise party for my Aunt Marsha. And the party happened to be on the same day as her brother's actual birthday! To Marsha and Peter...

And I was able to see a lot of family. I met my cousin's baby for the first time...

and visited with other family that I haven't seen in a while... (can you tell that the baby in the last picture and the girl in this picture are sisters? Can you say family resemblance?)

I met my aund and uncle's new cat, Mr. Carver (cute as a button...)

And got to practically eat my weight in lobsters.

All in all, not a bad way to spend a Sunday! And I want to wish a Happy Birthday to my Aunt Marsha who turns the big 65 on Thursday! Happy Birthday to you!!

Back to nature

I really need to find where I packed my camera becasue my hummingbird feeder is finally working! I have a bunch of hummingbirds! I saw at least 3 yesterday.
I also plan on getting a bird feeder so that I can feed the other birds, because I have flocks of them, too. My friend noticed an orange Oriole here!
And I always have my good old woodchuck who keeps eating my tomato plants as if I planted them just for him.
All in all, this is much nicer to see out my window than my view in Boston of my neighbor's tv set.
I love fresh air!
I hope I find my camera soon...

Work Stress

I recently switched houses within the agency I work for. I switched from an adult home to a children's home. I was a little afraid that I made the wrong decision when I agreed to switch. I completely fell in love with the consumers at the original house I was at. I miss them every day. I also became very good friends with the LPN that I worked with. It was strange, because she trained me how to do my job, then I became her supervisor. But somewhere in that transition, we became friends. And she is a VERY good nurse. I personally think she should go back to school for her RN. She is smart, dedicated and capable. She could easily excel as an RN and make an additional $9/hour.
But I do love the children I work with now. I was surprised how quickly I became attached to them. And the other staff I work with are amazing. I've been there a week and a half, and I already feel like they would bend over backwards to help me out with anything.
Today, I realized that I made the correct decision. A supervisory staff member at the house I used to work at snapped at the LPN when I was with her today. This person was not my boss, but she is one of the LPN's bosses (the LPN's have an interesting set up where they work under both the RN and the house manager). I was able to hear EVERYTHING that was said to the LPN, and none of it was nice, professional, or appropriate. There is NO need to talk to someone the was the house manager spoke to the LPN. She was obviously upset and is now uncomfortable to go to work tomorrow and be alone with this person.
I can't say that I blame her. I'd feel the same way if I was in her place. I will be there to help her as much as I can. And I will stand up for her, because the issue was something that occurred when I was still at that house.
However, I am very happy that I am personally removed from that negative situation.
Don't get me wrong, I really do love my job. I just prefer to work in a positive environment. Check out this commercial that used to be on tv in Boston and you'll know what I mean.

(Not that I'm advocating Comcast, but I think we've all been in situations similar to that).
I mean it's never actually been quite that bad, but I don't want that to be my workplace. Here's to the weekend!

RSF

This past weekend was the annual Street Fest. It was just about the worst weekend they could have planned it for. Nothing like standing on a street selling hot dogs when it's 95 degrees with 99% humidity.
But none the less, it's a tradition.
And it is a beautiful place to live.

Some new friends enjoyed their very first Eat Me Weiner (delicious, isn't it SarahRose)

Some people got extra silly
(That's my Mom!!)

(and my sister!!)

I got dehydrated (not so much fun) on Saturday. But I did relax and keep hydrated on Sunday.

But it was a fun weekend. I was able to talk to a lot of people who I haven't spoken to in a while, ant it was fun to catch up with everyone.

In other news, I had to get a new car. I was not excited to spend a bunch of money and go into debt, but I do like my car. I think we'll call her Bertha.

And Bertha likes to have fun...



I have to give Bre props for risking her life on that last shot and pulling an Alanis Morissette with that last picture and climbing through the window to get a picture of me through the moon roof. Very dangerous and I would appreciate it if she never tried anything like that again. But she was safe (whew!).
Hope everyone else is making the best of the summer!

Starting Over

My life has completely changed in the last 6 weeks. The plan of buying a house with my husband is totally gone. Those of you who know the story know it. If you don't, I don't want to talk about it here. (7/5/08- Let me clarify... I will talk about MY feelings here, but I'm not going to get in to all the personal details and reasons and events)
So the short version is that I'm starting my whole life over. Well, not completely over, I guess. I have a good nursing job that I really like. But I was living with my parents for about a month. Now I am renting a house. It's pretty nice. And it is really good to have a home. But it is still really hard. I went from being in a happy marriage (at least I was happily married) and buying a house, to being dumped, confused and renting a house on my own. Just like that. Everything I felt secure about is gone.
Last weekend, my family and some friends helped me move OUR stuff out of OUR apartment (my husband didn't go help- and that made me a little angry), and move MY stuff into MY house. Much of OUR stuff has become MY stuff. I guess that's the price he paid for not helping.
I have been through several of the stages of grief. I've experienced Denial and Bargaining. I am done with them for the most part, but sometimes they creep back in. Usually I am stuck somewhere between Anger and Depression. I can't wait for the day that I finally get to acceptance.
What sucks the most is that my husband was my best friend for LITERALLY half of my life. So I had always gone to him whenever I had any sort of problem. And now I can't. And I have completely lost my best friend. All of my other friends have been über-supportive and I couldn't have made it this far without them. But they're not Andrew.
I am not good at being alone. I need someone. Do you know how much it sucks to go to sleep by yourself when you really believed that you would never have to do that again?
But I am really trying to continue living my life. I am reconnecting with friends that I have kind of lost touch with. Today, I'm going to spend the afternoon with a friend floating around her parent's beautiful in-ground pool drinking pina coladas and eating burgers.
Once I find where I packed my camera, I can post pictures of my new life. I can show my newest tattoo (I've learned that when I'm faced with a major stressor, I tend to choose a risky behavior to alleviate stress, for example a tattoo after my grandmother passed away last year, pierced my nose after an especially rough semester at nursing school, and I'm seriously considering a sky diving adventure now...). I can show my new hummingbird feeder! Well, maybe I'll wait a few days on that one until the hummingbirds actually start to come...
I wish it was a warm, beautiful, sunny day to lounge around the pool. Well, it's slightly less cloudy than an hour ago. And the temperature has gone up 5 degrees.
Maybe things really will be getting better...