Saturday, March 28, 2009
lights out
i'm blogging in the dark.
why?
earth hour 2009!
from the website:
i'm demanding action!
what are you doing on your saturday night?
why?
earth hour 2009!
from the website:
What is Earth Hour?
* Earth Hour is World Wildlife Fund's global initiative where individuals, businesses and governments turn off their lights for one hour to show their support for action on climate change.
* Earth Hour is a symbolic event designed to engage people from all walks of life in the climate change discussion to send a strong message to our political leaders that we want them to take meaningful action on climate change.
* The largest climate event in history where millions of people around the world will unite by turning off their lights for one hour, Earth Hour, to demand action on the climate crisis.
i'm demanding action!
what are you doing on your saturday night?
Sunday, March 22, 2009
chicken, black bean, and corn burritos
wow. amazing!
i'm trying to figure out if it means that i'm getting old when i become excited about dinner.
i'm trying to figure out if it means that i'm getting old when i become excited about dinner.
our tree
a few weekends ago, we planted a tree in our front yard. in the real estate ad, there was a photo of the house with a tree in the front. hurricane gustav must have taken care of that one -- when we first saw the house, there was just a hole in the front yard.
it didn't take long for us to pick out a tree to replace it. we were swayed by it being spring, and oaklahoma redbuds are particularly beautiful in the spring.
when we bought our washer and dryer from home depot, we signed up for the home depot credit card. scott wanted the flexibility interest free credit and no payments for up to six months, and i wanted the four $25 gift certificates that are part of the sign-up bonus. needless to say, in the first month we paid off the washer and dryer, and every month from then until april we have a $25 gift certificate to use at home depot.
our $25 bought us our redbud, a bag of mulch, and a bag of potting soil. we spent an extra $10 on a pot of birds of paradise, scott's favorite plant of hawaii.
here is a closeup of the redbud (from the internet)
our baby redbud (it has already bloomed and is now growing leaves)
bird of paradise
it didn't take long for us to pick out a tree to replace it. we were swayed by it being spring, and oaklahoma redbuds are particularly beautiful in the spring.
when we bought our washer and dryer from home depot, we signed up for the home depot credit card. scott wanted the flexibility interest free credit and no payments for up to six months, and i wanted the four $25 gift certificates that are part of the sign-up bonus. needless to say, in the first month we paid off the washer and dryer, and every month from then until april we have a $25 gift certificate to use at home depot.
our $25 bought us our redbud, a bag of mulch, and a bag of potting soil. we spent an extra $10 on a pot of birds of paradise, scott's favorite plant of hawaii.
here is a closeup of the redbud (from the internet)
our baby redbud (it has already bloomed and is now growing leaves)
bird of paradise
Thursday, March 5, 2009
what do you make??
The dinner guests were sitting around the table discussing life. One man decided to explain the problem with social services.
He argued, “How’s a person going to benefit from someone who decided his best option in life was to become a social worker?” He reminded the other dinner guests what they say about social workers—“bleeding heart liberals.” To stress his point, he said to one of the guests, “You’re a social worker, Bonnie. Be honest. What do you make?”
Bonnie, who had a reputation for honesty and frankness, replied, “You want to know what I make?” She paused for a second, and then began. “Well, my colleagues and I make safe places for abused children and battered wives. In the process, we do our best to make them feel that they didn’t deserve the treatment they got, so they can go out and do better in their lives.
“We make arrangements for the elderly to go home from hospitals with adequate care, and run support groups so their caregivers don’t burn out.
“When a young widow or single mother doesn’t know where to turn, my colleagues and I make sure that she knows—whether people like it or not—what benefits she’s eligible for. And we do the best we can to make sure she doesn’t get lost in the bureaucracy.
“We make plans with clients so they can get jobs and homes. And this is only a start.
“You want to know what social workers make?” Bonnie asked again. She paused and looked at every person at the table.
“We make visits in neighborhoods that a lot of people wouldn’t go to on a bet, because we know that people there are in need. And we make friends there who invite us back to their weddings, their luaus, and the opening of the community center that we campaigned for.
“We make time to listen to the elderly, the mentally ill, the lonely. And we have knowledge and skills to help them make real improvements in their lives.
“We make appointments with officials and testify before the legislature to get everyone in the community a fair shake.
“Some of us teach, to make the next generation’s social workers.
"And sometimes, we make plans with our friends and families—and then have to break them because there’s an accident, a fire, a disaster here or in another state or even another country, and a social worker is needed.”
Bonnie paused one last time and then continued. “So when people want to judge us by what we make, we can hold our heads up high and say, ‘I make a difference... What do you make?’”
He argued, “How’s a person going to benefit from someone who decided his best option in life was to become a social worker?” He reminded the other dinner guests what they say about social workers—“bleeding heart liberals.” To stress his point, he said to one of the guests, “You’re a social worker, Bonnie. Be honest. What do you make?”
Bonnie, who had a reputation for honesty and frankness, replied, “You want to know what I make?” She paused for a second, and then began. “Well, my colleagues and I make safe places for abused children and battered wives. In the process, we do our best to make them feel that they didn’t deserve the treatment they got, so they can go out and do better in their lives.
“We make arrangements for the elderly to go home from hospitals with adequate care, and run support groups so their caregivers don’t burn out.
“When a young widow or single mother doesn’t know where to turn, my colleagues and I make sure that she knows—whether people like it or not—what benefits she’s eligible for. And we do the best we can to make sure she doesn’t get lost in the bureaucracy.
“We make plans with clients so they can get jobs and homes. And this is only a start.
“You want to know what social workers make?” Bonnie asked again. She paused and looked at every person at the table.
“We make visits in neighborhoods that a lot of people wouldn’t go to on a bet, because we know that people there are in need. And we make friends there who invite us back to their weddings, their luaus, and the opening of the community center that we campaigned for.
“We make time to listen to the elderly, the mentally ill, the lonely. And we have knowledge and skills to help them make real improvements in their lives.
“We make appointments with officials and testify before the legislature to get everyone in the community a fair shake.
“Some of us teach, to make the next generation’s social workers.
"And sometimes, we make plans with our friends and families—and then have to break them because there’s an accident, a fire, a disaster here or in another state or even another country, and a social worker is needed.”
Bonnie paused one last time and then continued. “So when people want to judge us by what we make, we can hold our heads up high and say, ‘I make a difference... What do you make?’”
Sunday, March 1, 2009
scott's surgery
Scott had a minor surgery on Friday. The original plan was for me to go to work (because of Mardi Gras, it was only a three day work week) and meet him in recovery to bring him home. That sounds easy enough, right?
Wrong! I woke up in a frenzy, got dressed for work, and decided that concentrating on my therapy sessions at work was just impossible. I packed up four magazines and we went to the hospital.
I must admit that I spent the whole day before the surgery thinking of lasts. What if this is our last...? Crazy, I know. I wasn't worried about the surgery, but just the MAC (conscious sedation). I know people go under every day, and I've been under general anesthesia twice, but I couldn't stop the what if's.
Everything was fine. The surgery was a success, and we came home for about noon. My co-workers came over to the house for a meeting. Long after they left, Scott was feeling sick (from the pain medication) so I left the house to get him some Sprite. Finally I was alone, for the first time of the whole day, and all of the relief hit me at once. I fought back tears so I could pass for somewhat normal at Wal-Mart.
I couldn't be more thankful for my husband. I couldn't be happier with our relationship, our companionship. Thinking about losing him, even for a second, is debilitating. My need to function in a role to take care of him was the only thing that got me through Friday... He needed me to drive him from the hospital, pick-up lunch and medication, clean his incisions. The second that was taken away -- when I could take off the care-taking hat, the relief hit me. He is mine again, for years to come.
I love you Scotty Stead. I cannot imagine life without you.
Wrong! I woke up in a frenzy, got dressed for work, and decided that concentrating on my therapy sessions at work was just impossible. I packed up four magazines and we went to the hospital.
I must admit that I spent the whole day before the surgery thinking of lasts. What if this is our last...? Crazy, I know. I wasn't worried about the surgery, but just the MAC (conscious sedation). I know people go under every day, and I've been under general anesthesia twice, but I couldn't stop the what if's.
Everything was fine. The surgery was a success, and we came home for about noon. My co-workers came over to the house for a meeting. Long after they left, Scott was feeling sick (from the pain medication) so I left the house to get him some Sprite. Finally I was alone, for the first time of the whole day, and all of the relief hit me at once. I fought back tears so I could pass for somewhat normal at Wal-Mart.
I couldn't be more thankful for my husband. I couldn't be happier with our relationship, our companionship. Thinking about losing him, even for a second, is debilitating. My need to function in a role to take care of him was the only thing that got me through Friday... He needed me to drive him from the hospital, pick-up lunch and medication, clean his incisions. The second that was taken away -- when I could take off the care-taking hat, the relief hit me. He is mine again, for years to come.
I love you Scotty Stead. I cannot imagine life without you.
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