2010 ending

Thought I'd take a minute for a quick note. The New Year seems to be a time to reflect. I'm not going to do any resolutions this time, just remember. I was trying to think of what we did last year between X-mas and New Year's and I don't know. There a short vivid memories...but I don't know. So I'm going to read the blog tonight.

Please have a safe and Happy New Year's. xoxoxo

peace, love, groove

Christmas cheer

Pictures: ET nurses Annual X-mas dinner at Tosi's; the boys cleaning up at the Maki's x-mas eve gathering; Ben and Phil working on clean up; Mark with meat leftovers; Phil cleaning up the table; Katie and Lee....say no more.

Great X-mas weekend. It started early with the Monday night annual ET nursing X-mas party at Tosi's. Beth, Denise, Catherine, me, Sue, Beckie and Donna (the first ET nurse in southwestern Michigan ) get together at least once a year. Check out this link if you've never heard of ET nursing or WOCN. X-mas eve was at the Maki house and this year the men were on clean up (a first and well appreciated). Great food and company.... and home to the dogs by 9 pm. Then it was movie weekend for me: Black Swan, Tron, Inception, Easy A, and The Fighter. So far, Inception is my fav. Hoping to get in True Grit and The King's Speech by the end of this weekend. Should be in a good position for preparation for The Oscar's.

It's been good at work. I had a "Santa-like" patient last week. Went in on Friday just to take care of him and see a new colostomy patient. It is so rewarding to help people....listen when they need to talk....give them empathy and caring. I love nursing. Today I was walking down the hallway and heard a patient yelling that he needed water. Didn't know him at all, but he appeared to have vision problems. I gave him a couple drinks and tried to put the glass so he could reach it. I said "is it okay now?" he said...."no....the water tastes funny". Oh well, I can't fix that...just yell if you can't get water again or hit the call light. He was happy I stopped in. I find it hard to leave people alone...if you have family in the hospital, please stay with them, it really means a lot. Staff can not be there all the time.

After work tonight I stopped by the grocery store. Saw my good friend Mimi's older sister....she still likes pink. The music playing was a good 'ole rock and roll song I've heard Dave sing a hundred times. I could see him singing while I listened. I just loved his voice....so beautiful. What a great memory. When I got home I filled the bird bath and put out some dry bread for the birds....expect the part Nikki just had to eat. She didn't know she was stealing. Well, it's time for dinner and then I'm going to make ham salad. Hope everyone had a great X-mas.

peace, love, groove.

Merry Christmas to all!

This year's Christmas card picture. PLG to everyone! love, Lee

Dave's Birthday

This picture was taken 12/2007. Mother and son sharing a birthday wish. Dave's birthday was sometimes overlooked over the the years, being so close to Christmas. His childhood cake top was a Santa. But Dave didn't seem to mind....or had gotten use to it.

After getting my hair cut this evening, I picked up a pizza at Santaniello's in Dave's honor. He loved pizza. Love you so much Dave, you still feel so close to my heart. Thanks honey.

peace, love, groove

Nature surrounds us

Pictures: 2 of the 3 deer in and by my yard this morning.

It started last night around 11:30 and lasted until 12:30. Ruthie was barking on and off and going up to the windows very upset. I tried yelling at her....I got up once and found nothing. Then the last time I got up there were two black cats sitting outside the living room window by the tree. Just sitting there, undisturbed by the dog barking. Didn't even care when I knocked on the window. Finally, one at a time, they went away. I've never seen them around before. Then this morning I was overwhelmed by the number of birds in the yard. All kinds too! It sort of felt like they were talking to me at times. I filled the back bird feeders and the heated bird bath. About 10:30 I went to let Audrey in and there was a deer on the other side of the fence staring at me. I walked closer talking the whole time....telling her not to run. She just looked at me. Then I noticed another deer was in the fenced in very back part of our yard. I slowly walked to get my camera. When I got back there were three deer all on the other side of the fence. I couldn't get a picture of all of them together. I think one was a young buck...not sure. They seemed to be very interested in me. They are so beautiful. Can't remember the last time I saw so many animals in the yard in the winter.

peace, love, groove.

What a weekend

Pictures: The YaYas; a Christmas tree pinata; Julie breaks it open; playing a word game; Lindsey borrows Sue's glasses.

The YaYa Christmas party (not cookie party by the way) was a great success. GREAT FUN! Julie prepared a Mexican fest this year to go with the recipe we got in Traverse City for the best Margarita's in the world. And they were great...plus no hangover. We got wonderful gifts and had a lot of laughs (some at the boy's expense). It's a yearly tradition that I hope goes on forever.

Saturday I went over to Tim and Joni's to play Carcassonne. It's really fun.

Checking in on our animal friends

Pictures: Sign at Humane Society cage in honor of helping friends x2; Nancy and Nikki eating/drinking together this morning.

This morning Nancy-boy and Nikki were caught together in the kitchen. I had to get a picture. Work was good, we had our x-mas party today which was very fun. Then I went to the Humane Society to give them a couple more checks I had received, some cookies and a x-mas card. They showed me the sign on the cage I sponsored in honor of all our friends who helped us, especially the last month or so. They made a special sign and wanted me to show pictures to our friends. They have some young puppies they showed me. Not ready to adopt. The mother is so thin. She is beautiful, a short haired hunting breed. I hope she gets a good home. I took Ruthie with me this time. Then we went by the vet's office and gave them cookies and a card too! Ruthie was a good girl. Tomorrow night is our x-mas YaYa party.... it will be fun. I'm tired, but hanging in there. More tomorrow. Thanks for following.

peace, love, groove.