August 23, 2011

A Home For Dee Dee - Our New Fur-Child


Dee Dee

Dee Dee
A face only a mother could love,
but a sweetie little thing!
Today was the day we set out to find us another fur-child.  We've been without a dog in the home for a couple years now, and although knowing we could leave the house for a couple days at a time without worry was great, I was beginning to feel the emptiness of not having that companion under my feet, a beggar under the table, and a cuddle bug in my lap. 
The rules were simple:  We wanted a small dog. Not very old, but not a puppy. Housebroken and friendly. Getting along with cats would be a plus, too.

The reaction at the shelters was quite different. We asked to see the big Goldens and Chows. We discovered they were almost 10 years old, and probably not housebroken after being in a kennel so long.  And big enough to eat cats!!!

Here are a couple that we considered for a few moments at least.

Dazzle

Daisy Mae

Number 59
Oh, there were so many more!  We spent the entire day traveling from shelter to shelter in our county and beyond!  We didn't even stop to eat!  Finally, we ended up at the Petsmart close to home where (after playing with every big dog in the store!),  Jim and I reminded ourselves of the 'rules' and decided on Dee Dee.

Well, I decided on Dee Dee and showed Jim how she fit all the expectations we had set.  (Pretty face wasn't on the list...)  There was another slightly bigger dog we had to make a choice between. We called him "Gray Hair" because he did look like he had long gray hair!  I thought he was the most ugly dog in the shelter, but we weren't counting looks. 

In the end, I think Dee Dee was shaking the hardest.

Petsmart gave us a lot of free things and COUPONS for more. Dee Dee, about 2-years-old,  has been spayed and has had lots and lots of medical care. She only cost $49.00 which is way less than what I expected.

Tonight, she's settled in the recliner snuggled close to Jim's knees as he reads a book. (He may stay in the recliner all night!) The cats are circling, but behaving. She's been under my feet in the kitchen hoping for a treat, and has let us know she wants the sliding patio door opened for a potty break in the (fenced) back yard.

Earlier, as we got into the car to leave Petsmart, very carefully holding onto Dee Dee like she was a china doll, she suddenly jumped into the back seat with a little leap and curled up on Jim's jacket as if to say, "I know how to do this. I'm home now!"

And so she is...

Welcome home, Dee Dee



Take Care on the Journey,
Your friend in life,
~Linda

August 16, 2011

The Doctor Is In - But He Won't See You Now



Life is...



Life is busy and wonderful.  Frustrating and Exciting. Depressing and Fulfilled. Happy and Thankful. Joyous and Tiring. Did I say busy and wonderful?

I love my job as RN Supervisor on the weekends, and have picked up a couple extra shifts in another area of my company in what is called the Wellness Clinic. I worked there two days last week and saw a handful of older residents who came down for a blood pressure check - or just to see the new nurse who was covering for their favorite nurse who took a week's vacation.

Online education (RN-BSN) is exciting and wonderful. I'm making top grades. It's been 6 of 8 weeks for the first class. My how times flies by!  We'll see what the next course holds.

Family news: Grandpa Cash was hospitalized for a few days but has returned to his assisted living apartment and seems to be much improved.

Oldest son announces marriage intentions!  We are so pleased because we think his 'intended' is just wonderful, and they make a great couple. No date or place yet.

Youngest son and wife made the move from S.Carolina to Kansas where he has a math teaching position at a middle school. Good luck to them on this new adventure!  It's been a real busy time for youngest son as he flew out for a job interview. Flew back and drove a U-Haul 1,200 miles in two days. Flew back to help his wife finish up the packing and drive the car to Kansas. Then, start his new job only a few hours after they arrived! Whew! I couldn't do that anymore.

Hubby has a serious job interview in two days. We're happy for the possible opportunity, but a little nervous and worried that it works out.

Oh, the depression. Well, maybe close. When I got up this morning, I heard geese honking over the house and even saw the shadow of a bunch of them in the sunlight on the living room floor.  It hit me that I hadn't heard geese since we left Ohio. The memories of our last place where geese and ducks ate corn at our front door, and deer fed in the back yard brought some sadness for a few minutes.  The friends and family we left behind... Of course, I  remembered our precious fur-children, Sheba and Ching-Ching. Even if we still lived in Ohio, we wouldn't have them at our sides anymore.  Sometimes it's too sad for words.

About that doctor who wouldn't see me.  It wasn't quite that way, but my doctor apparently moved to another office and no one told me. When I tried to get some of my meds reordered, seems no one could find my file, and the order was delayed so much that I actually ran out of my meds!!!  When we tried to get authorization, they said we had to pay cash to the tune of about $120.00 for one med. At the end of our rope, we said okay. Then we were told this particular diabetic med needed "pre-authorization" from a doctor who couldn't find my file and wouldn't order anything until she got it. Let's just say that hubby went to the pharmacy and returned with my medications.....

Here's a cat question. We've almost renamed Little Paws to "Mr. 3 a.m.".  He has a persistent habit of waking up at 3 a.m. every morning where's he's been peacefully sleeping on his pillow at the head of the bed - on my side!  He wakes up almost on the dot of 3 a.m. and decides it's time to sleep on my face and my pillow!  If I push him away, he returns persistently time after time. If we put him out, he scratches on the door making large scratch marks. If we put him in the basement, he sounds like a lion in distress!  I'm actually exhausted because of it.

Answer: Today I went to Wal-Mart and bought another pillow. When Mr. 3 a.m. takes over my pillow, I can move over to the new pillow and hope we can both get a little more sleep.

Happy birthday to Sandy's husband, Craig on August 17. We hope it's a great day and that you get the job you hope for today!

I've been tired all day and almost put off posting here until 'tomorrow', but I know at least one of you checks.  This one is for you.

I've posted on my other blogs HERE and HERE

Take Care on the Journey,
Your friend in life,
~Linda


August 2, 2011

Realizing a Dream


My first ~ RN Supervisor ~ name tag

Dreams become goals, and goals...
Become The Dream
I finally made it


Take Care on the Journey,
Your friend in life.
~Linda

Linda's E-mail: bestnurse@usa.com

August 1, 2011

Catch Me If You Can

Happy New Day to My Family and Friends,


I'm still not on a full-time work schedule, so it is nice not to be rushing off to work on a busy work day, but it leaves a 'stillness' inside that I can't explain. I love having the time off, but have never adjusted to an unset schedule. Everyone wishes they didn't have to "go to work", and I'm wishing I had work!! Imagine that.


I've posted some articles of interest on a couple of my other blogs, so I'm letting you hit the HERE key to see the postings at those sites.  On my Geocaching blog, see my amazing encounter with the King of Geocaching HERE


Then, come back to this site (Linda's Notebook) by hitting the link called "Linda's Home Page" (on the geocaching page) to click for an interesting article I posted (accidentally) on my coupon blog HERE


Hope this isn't confusing... I posted on two of my other blogs.   http://geocachingindenver.blogspot.com/ and another one at http://goldencoupons.blogspot.com/


Some of you have seen the link to Geocaching story on my Facebook page. 


I think I should go into writing full-time and not work so hard at finding a nursing job.  LOL LOL LOL


Take Care on the Journey,
Your friend in life,
~Linda




Linda's E-mail: bestnurse@usa.com