At Your Cervix

So Talented and Creative!

2010-03-19T15:26:00.000-07:00

While multi-tasking at work I've been blog surfing and browsing all kinds of cute, crafty ideas people come up with. It makes me want to be creative, or just a copycat. Seriously though, how do people come up with the time to make the project, photograph it and then be witty when they post about it. Its all so much effort!
Here are some recent favorites:

Fun ideas At Second Street

I want to make this skirt from Freshly Picked

Guess I better invest in a sewing machine if I keep following Tea Rose Home

Melissa's flowers always brighten my day at Blossom Sweet

Coming up... Vacations!

2010-03-08T13:44:00.000-08:00

April

Going here...

taking these...

for a little of this...

but hopfully not this!

May

Going to take one of these

to see this guy

and a few of these

July
Back to bliss down south

for a little of this

but mostly R&R. Ahhhh.

Excited!

Just the Usual

2009-07-12T15:17:00.000-07:00

I know, my blog (and sometimes my life) is so boring. I think about deleting the blog and just keeping up on Facebook but I enjoy reading and viewing everyone elses adventures. So I'll post the occasional exciting things and try not to get bogged down with the everyday mundane.

The Second Annual Bootleg (and Baby) Tour is scheduled for the end of July. On my dad's side I have family in San Francisco and Seattle - wine country. This year we're traveling up to see new additions to the family also - twins (for Jen and Andrew) and a new baby girl (for Chris and Ami). I'm excited to have time off work for an official vacation, even though I'll probably still be on baby duty. It may not be a sunny beach vacation with tropical drinks but I will be soaking up the R&R.

I am still anxiously awaiting getting into my house. I paid my first mortgage payment this month and while it was exciting for the first time I'm sure it will get old fast. Especially when its my own money and not from renters! The carpet is almost ten years old so I'm saving to put in new carpet and hard wood floors on the main level when the place is empty.

I have three new swimsuits ready and waiting to meet my hot tub. Slightly exessive - but they were all on sale! October is still bikini season right?

Dress search is on

2009-06-01T17:43:00.001-07:00

The newest from the maid of honor dress search. I'm finding all the ones I like are black. Not a great color for a wedding.

The previous favorite from David's Bridal turned out to be a bust. Very pretty in the picture, not so pretty in person.

Dreams - My Subconscious Coming Through?

2009-05-21T20:43:00.000-07:00

I keep having the weirdest dreams. I've been out of high school eight years now and still regularly have dreams about being back there. Not nostalgic, sentamental dreams but ones where I can't remember my locker combination. Dreams where I haven't been to class for so long that I can't remember which seat is mine and I know I must be failing. When I got to work today I had this errant thought that I needed to get online to check my midterm grades.

What does it all mean? I didn't do poorly in high school. I may have sluffed a couple classes. Why is my subconscious traveling back all the way to high school? My college career was more recent, and probably more stressful!

They're wild, crazy, loud, snot nosed, rambunctious... and they're cooped up in the waiting room.

2009-05-17T18:07:00.000-07:00

The visitor's policy in L&D is four people plus spouse can be on the unit. I swear no matter how throughly I explain this either the patients don't get it or they don't care. It wouldn't be such a problem if each family could contain and keep to themselves but that's asking entirely too much. The last shift I worked we had a unit full of children bouncing off the wall. Their parents were too busy to be concerned with what their kids were doing. Okay, so maybe the family is super close - but do I'm doubting the laboring mother wants everone crowded around her door, ears pressed to the wood, straining to hear that first cry. If mom was that concerned you hear/see her seconds old vernex/meconium covered baby she would have invited you into the room for the whole painful ordeal.

I've come to the conclusion that the extended family is more hindrance than helpful. There is so much to get done in that first hour after birth. And contrary to popular belief even after baby is delivered there is still some exposure of mom's parts to be done - fundus checks, clean up, breastfeeding, etc.

So just for future reference, if you have a baby and I'm not there immediately after delivery or I don't visit you in the hospital its not because I don't love you. And you'll probably love me all the more because I won't interupt those precious moments of sleep you're catching at the same time the baby is napping.

Lisa's Wedding

2009-05-17T14:29:00.000-07:00

I'm pretty sure everyone knows by now but my sister Lisa and her boyfriend Mike are getting married in September. Even though I'm trying not to take on responsibilities that aren't my own I still stress over the details. The days are slipping away and there is still so much to do! I'm being hands off... mostly. We found this dress at David's Bridal and Lisa now may have to plan her colors around my bridesmaid's dress - Champagne and Black Strapless Tulle Dress with Caviar Beading. You know it is pretty from just the description.

*For whatever reason I can't get the picture to transfer, ugh, so if you're really interested you'll have to view it in a different window. http://www.davidsbridal.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplayView?storeId=10052&catalogId=10051&categoryId=-49998944&currentIdx=3&subCategory=-49998947%7c-49998944&catentryId=2001041

So Close to Home Sweet Home

2009-05-17T13:06:00.000-07:00

I've been slacking on my blog update in fear that I had been jinxing myself by writing about my house search. Plus I was getting tired of the up-down-up-down nature of the whole business so I figured everyone else must be tired of the drauma too.

But here's the latest anyway. My realtor found the "cutie house" in Sandy at 9332 S. Chartres Avenue - about 800 West down by the Jordan River and River Oaks Golf Course. Its within walking distance of Tai Pan Trading - bad news! It has three bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms. The master has an amazing spa like bathroom with a walk in closet. Room for more shoes! After seeing the master I quickly feel in love.

The house was built in 2000 and one couple has lived there. They're moving to California in October for an new job and don't want to move the washer, dryer or the fridge. They had a covered patio built onto the back of the house and installed a hot tub. Yipee for inclusions!

As opposed to the last home inspection (at the Bear house) this inspection went well. No termites! Just minor repairs that my realtor was going to have her handyman fix before I moved in.

That's the good news. The bad news is I was supposed to sign paperwork on Wednesday of this week. The mortgage company screwed up and I didn't get paperwork on time so our contract expired! At about this same time the owners found out that the house they had been expecting move into until October fell through. They were in a panic and decided they just weren't going to be able to sell the house until the end of September, they didn't have anywhere to go and didn't want to move twice.

I've looked at so many houses and each one I put an offer on seems to be a better fit than the last. Its hard not to get attached and picturing myself living there - especially decorating!

So when I found out about this new predicament I was so sad! My heart just sank at the thought of having to browse the MLS and go through dumpy houses in search of another jem. I decided the best thing to do was to offer to buy the house anyway and lease it back to them until they left in October. They were thrilled. I'm less thrilled that I didn't get my house keys today like I was supposed to, but it will all work out in the end.

I consoled myself yesterday by justifying that since I wasn't going to have a mortgage payment for another four months I could splurge on shoes - if you call $20 a splurge.

No Go

2009-04-05T16:00:00.000-07:00

So I don't know if buying a house is always so hard/complicated for everyone or just for me! I'm getting really good at signing offers though!

So Jackson Street is now a no go. The problems I thought weren't too bad turned out to be major (i.e. termites, a couple roof leaks and a wet foundation) ugh! When they refused to pay for any of the repairs I decided buying a 50 year old house with special needs was not for me. But the bear was cute so I may be making a midnight trip to Midvale with my chain saw. Teasing.

So I'm on the market again. I mean, I'm looking on the market again. I swear this house hunting thing is just like dating. First date and second dates go well, your dad likes him/it, you get your hopes up only to be crushed when you find out he/it is really a scumbag/fixer upper.

I'm sure my up again, down again, yoyo home search is fun for everyone around me also. People get as excited as I do and it is disappointing to tell them that I've "broken up" with yet another cute house prospect. So I may just quit reporting until all the papers are signed and my furniture is in the house! Okay, I wouldn't be that silly. I'll sign the papers and then I'm going to call everyone for help moving.

Closer to Being a Homeowner

2009-03-22T13:38:00.000-07:00

I put an offer on Jackson Street, or "the Bear house" as I frequently call it, and with a minor concession they accepted my offer. I feel like I made a fair deal and they're paying my closing costs! Whoohoo. The inspection was on Wednesday last week and went well, no major problems to note. So now we just continue on with getting a clear title and probably the first part of April will be closing.

Of course hindsight is always 20/20. Even though this hunt has been tedious and seemingly long things have fit into place nicely. For instance, the first time home buyers tax credit was recently increased to $8k and does not have to be paid back. Free money to paint, buy a couch, do whatever with. If I had bought a house last year I would have only gotten $7,500, not a huge difference but I would be obligated to pay it back. It was a pain in the butt dealing with Gary and his FSBO house but it made me confident that Jackson St. was the one for me.

The upstairs needs painting, the downstairs needs new carpet and paint but I'm excited to get started on the project and move in!

I don't have any pictures but if you're super interested a virtual tour is available http://homesite.obeo.com/viewer/default.aspx?tourid=522627&refURL=Google.com&locale=en-US

Lets Try Again

2009-03-08T10:36:00.000-07:00

So the offer on the house on Roosevelt Street has not worked out as smoothly as I had hoped. Short version - I offered what I thought the house was worth, they were disappointed it wasn't more, they verbally countered but were still high. They don't seem to understand that it is a buyer's market and even though the house has been well maintained it still needs updating. Gary keeps telling me how they have so many people interested in the property, yet mine is the only offer on the table.

So unfortunately/fortunately I've still been looking and I've found yet another cute brick bungalo in Midvale on Jackson Street. This one is slightly bigger, more updated, new roof, new windows AND has a lower price. Seems like a no brainer right? Okay, the basement is fugly - think wood paneling, popcorn ceiling and red carpet but those are just cosmetic. The upstairs is pretty much perfect as is and thats where I'll be spending my time.

I'm still playing the waiting game though! Yesterday I went through the house with plumber and a painter to get bids. So maybe by mid week we'll be ready to put in an offer. Cross your finger (and your toes).

I think I found The One - A house, not a spouse.

2009-02-22T10:24:00.000-08:00

It seems as though I have been on my house hunt forever! I swear I've been through all the dumps and dives of SLC. The whole process is just so exhausting. Back in November my mom drove past cute house in Midvale for sale by owner. She called on the house but it was out of my price range. I dismissed the whole thing but she kept it on the back burner. When she called back in February they had lowered the price $20k but it was still too high for me. We went and walked through it anyways and met Carol, one of the sellers.

Carol and her brother found the house for their mother about four years ago. Their mother passed away in October so they painted, cleaned out the house out and put it on the market. It is brick bungalo built in 1950 with a porch, hard wood floor, and two fireplaces - all the things on my dream list. Three bedrooms, two baths, two car garage, central air, close to Trax, small closets but you have to make some concessions.

About 30 minutes after my mom and I returned home from touring the house Carol called me and said that even though I wasn't financially qualified for the asking price they wanted someone who loved the house and would be a good neighbor (Carol lives in the neighborhood). She invited me to put in an offer of what I was qualified for - even though it was about another $20k less than the current asking price.

My mom kept saying when I found the right house I would know it. I felt good about this one. It was in good condition, in a good neighborhood, central location, and my dad didn't have anything negative to say about it after he did his "inspection."

Gary, the brother, offered to help me draw up the paperwork but I didn't feel comfortable representing myself in such a huge transaction when I've never bought a house before. I met with, Buffy, my dad's realtor yesterday. Yesterday we went through the house again and put together the paperwork to put in an offer on Monday. I feel confident in her expertise and opinion and it feels so much better to have someone in my corner negotiating for me.

As with a lot of for sale by owner houses Buffy thought this one was over priced - especially in a buyer's market. That was one of the key reasons I didn't want to go at this project without a professional. In doing comparisons of sold and houses currently for sale we came up with a price I was comfortable with. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that after Buffy presents our information Carol and Gary will see that we're offering a fair price and accept my offer! I hope I am not getting excited for nothing.

View from the porch. Carol's house is across the street with the car in the driveway.

New Diet

2009-02-09T10:23:00.000-08:00

"According to a recent article on nutrition, they said eating right doesn’t have to be complicated. Apparently there’s a simple way to tell if you’re eating right: Fill your plate with bright colors: Greens, reds, yellows, oranges, etc. I tried it — it’s great. I call it the M&M diet."

I'm not single, I'm busy

2009-02-05T21:35:00.000-08:00

I'm reading an article about Renee Zellweger in Marie Claire and I liked the way the author descibed her "She reminds us of that fabulous friend who has a great career - and a little trouble in the man department." It sounded like me. Renee goes on to list the things in her life she wants to make happen - her projects. "I want to study American history and political science, live in an apartment in France and fix my bad French. And is there really time for all of it?"

Sometimes that is just how I feel. It would be nice to have someone to share experiences with, a partner. But somedays I feel like I am so utterly busy I don't even have enough time to sleep or eat regularly! Plus I've gotten to the point where I have no desire or patience for guy drauma. I'm learning how to just let it be.

But I can report I went out with this charming, gentlemanlike Peruvian guy recently. It was fun to hear him flip back and forth conversing in Spanish with friends and English with me. I am jealous of his skill with language and he was nice enough to encourage my broken Spanish rather than laugh at me.

Strangely enough, I felt comfortable in my skin the whole night. Shooting bad at pool games and speaking Spanish poorly with a bunch of tanned skin Latinos. Laughter came easily and the time flew by. I think I'll do it again.

Gold Star Patients

2009-02-03T03:10:00.000-08:00

I think I found a very good fit when I started working in Labor and Delivery. Which is interesting because (don't think of me badly) I've never been much of a fan of babies. I never knew quite how to soothe them when they cried, I don't do diapers or spit-up.

With L&D I have the perfect job. Most of the time the moms are happy to be here, they're healthy, and I have babies for about an hour after delivery when they're on their best behavior - pink, soft, warm, and sleepy. I get to be witness to one of a family's most intimate moments. With most families you form almost a bond. It is nice to be able to see a patient through this difficult process, see their reward and then send them happily on their way to post-partum.

Mind you it isn't always this perfect. I do have patients that are whinny, overly anxious, smokers, drug moms, babies that make me stress, and extended family members that get in the way of me doing my job. Those are the days that are too long to be at work for twelve hours.

But tonight I had a gold star patient. Came in in spontaneous labor, while she walked around to stimulate her contractions I ate dinner, no pitocin needed, pleasant and cooperative, perfect delivery, perfect baby. I could do those types of deliveries over and over again.

And on top of that I'm going home two hours early (5 am)! Which is great cause I have a class at 1 pm and I could use a couple of hours of sleep before I have to be back at the hospital again.

L&D

2009-02-01T02:11:00.000-08:00

January 18th This never happens - a completely empty Labor and Delivery patient board. We knocked on wood. I went home early. It was nice. I had to take a picture to commemorate it.

Traffic School

2009-02-01T00:30:00.000-08:00

I had to go traffic school the other day - I got cited for "failure to stay in lane" when I was in my accident. I made sure to get there early. As I watched people trickle in I was surprised at the variety. It wasn't all crazy, wreckless, speeding teenagers - the majority were adults. Signing in and trying to judge the "teacher" it felt almost like detention.

Actually it wasn't half bad. The instructor kept it light and fun (as fun as it could be, I guess). I even got some of my questions answered. And a refresher course is always good - how far from a fire hydrant are you supposed to park? Back to that snowy, slippery day in January - The couple I got into the accident with were very calm and collected. Which was good cause I was a mess. Annie, the passenger, even gave me a hug and reassured me everything would be fine. A couple of days ago she found me on Facebook and messaged me to see how I was doing. What a sweetheart! Turns out their car was totaled from the accident also.

We've been keeping touch since. They recently bought a replacement vehicle when a couple days later they involved in another accident! They're having worse luck with cars than I am!

My Rant on Obesity

2009-01-23T21:58:00.000-08:00

I posted this blog entry** on MySpace back in November and while I think it still applies a new sort of twist has come about to kind of make me eat my words. I went for my yearly (TMI!) not too long ago and wanting to be proactive about my health asked the nurse practioner if she would do some routine labs (CBC, thyroid levels, cholesterol, etc). The results come back and surprise, surprise. The girl who has been the same-ish weight since high school has elevated cholesterol. I rarely eat red meat, no diabetes, no high blood pressure, non-smoker, and lead a somewhat active lifestyle. I blame my mother (who does have high cholesterol).

I've never been a big fan of bacon but now that I know I'm not supposed to have it, I want it all the more! So now that my outside appearance may not have changed but since my insides have I guess I'll be going on a diet. I mean making a "lifestyle change." Ugh. Guess I can't eat cookies for breakfast anymore...

**As a skinny girl with good genes (and good jeans) I've never been all that patient with obese people. Being in the health care field I seem to be encountering more and more overweight/obese women. And I'm not talking pregnancy fat, I'm talking just plain old fat. I wonder if these women know how much harder they make our jobs when they don't take care of themselves. How is the anethesiologist supposed to place your epidural when they can't locate your spinal column beneath your many layers? And after you get your epidural how in the world do you expect me to be able to help you move your 300 pounds around the bed when your numb to the navel.

Feel free to tell me I just don't understand, cause I don't. If it were me I'd banish cookies from my house, take longer walks with the dog, trade mayo for mustard. The McDonald's menu scares me and I'm too cheap to splurge on mochas at Starbucks. I love taking home leftovers from restaurants and drinking skim milk with its bluish tinge. So maybe my whole thing has to do more with money than it does to do with fat. In Chicago I'd walk rather than pay to take the bus. I'd drink Iggy's bad coffee for free over visiting the local coffee establishment.

Maybe it is the way I grew up and my family dynamic that has kept me thin. The TV is rarely on at our house, Mayson has never had the latest gaming system. My mom sneaks bananas into our Sunday waffles and zuchini into her bread despite our complaints. She has had a carefully tended garden for as long as I can remember. My parents are conservative spenders so going out to dinner was reserved for special occations - i.e. birthdays and vacations.

Way before the curves that came with puberty I still remember the pride I felt when my Aunt commented on what "a cute figure" I had. Still today I love sliding into ass-hugging jeans more than I love being able to down a Cafe Rio burrito in a single sitting.

Guess that is enough judgement from my skinny soap box.

New York Here We Come!

2009-01-23T15:41:00.000-08:00

Yippee! I'm excited to have a vacation to look forward to - Lisa and I are going to New York in March. Partially for her birthday, partially for Spring Break, mostly just for fun. We'll be gone March 16-21st but since we're taking a red-eye flight we technically won't get there until the 17th. Neither of us have been so we're excited to take in the sites and touristy destinations.

A Home Of My Own

2009-01-21T21:39:00.000-08:00

When I first started my job at IMC I was excited to start making "real" money so I could buy a little house of my own. I figured I would save for a year get a good chunk for a down payment and then start looking. It was too tempting and I started looking at townhouses online. Next thing I knew I had myself a realtor. After spending an afternoon looking at townhouses and calculating how much HOA fees would cost me a year I decided that a single family home would be best for me.

Now that it has been a couple of months it feel like I've been looking forever! Sometimes I wonder what state of mind the seller's realtor is in when they're asking $200k for the rundown, updated in 1970, next to the freeway, infested with vermin house I walk through. I figure with the current economy (i.e. everyone going into foreclosure) I should be able to get a cute home for a reasonable price.

I wanted a charming bunglao, with wood floors, a fireplace, a front porch and near downtown. I wanted character not a stuco multi-level that mirrored every other house in the neighborhood. At first I was opposed to looking west of State Street. Recently I started looking at Daybreak. I wasn't crazy about the cross-the-valley commute but I was stoked about looking at a brand new house for the same price as that 1950's model.

So now after six months of saving and what seems like 600 walk throughs I'm looking into building. I resubmitted my financial info to a broker to see if the lower interest rates can get me a bigger mortgage to work with.

So cross your fingers, Parker and I may be picking out paint and carpet for our new place!

New to Blogging

2009-01-18T11:54:00.001-08:00

Although I'm an avid fan of Facebook and MySpace I'm new to the whole blogging thing. But I'm at work on a slow Sunday admiring my co-worker's blogs and decided to start my own. We'll see if I can keep it up!