Geiger Girl... Saving the world one Gamma Ray at a time

Status Update (with pictures!) and Edits

2009-05-12T17:52:00.002-08:00

Alright, I'll admit it! The pictures are a bribe to get you to read this. As any parent of a 4 year old knows, it's all about the bribes.

Speaking of precocious 4 year olds, here is mine. This photo is where she's telling me to walk the planks, its not bedtime yet coz the sun is still shining! (Aye, I'm working on her blackout blinds this week!)

As I'm crackberry blogging, I have no idea how the whole picture layout is going to work out. Say la vee! (Hahaha! That's my utah education. I know its french for "whatever will be, will be" but they didn't offer french in Beaver, only spanish. I'm not even going to attempt to spell it right. Because I'm lazy.)

The next photo is from Mother's Day, eating at Arby's. That's right folks, because we're classy! Z is showing me how she has hair just like her Momma. Not too far off from the color. Best part of my day was when a random stranger told Zoe that she needs to be nice to her mommy. Ha!
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Oh right, forgot to do the status updates. Indeed.

Foot is good-ish. I'm still gimping around, but it is much less pronounced. I have high hopes that our Seward trip to camp and fish won't be hindered by the Hop-a-rella.

M is still in Hawaii, dealing with the icky humidity. While Alaska weather has been breathtaking, truly the most awesome spring I've witnessed. In. My. Life. So HA!

The Hawaii-ish Luau was a sucess, as was the giant slip-n-slide birthday party we went to the next day. Ack! I hear yelling from the other room. Doesn't sound good... so that's it for the updates folks!

Magical Cookie Bar recipe

2009-04-30T19:12:00.004-08:00

Today I brought some "I love you guys for not kicking me while I'm down" cookie bars to work. My coworkers are great, they were so helpful while I was being Hop-Along-Heather that I had to reward them with my Magical Cookie Bars. I got such a great response from the cookies, with lots of people asking for the recipe that I thought I'd share online as well.

These are called Magical for two reasons. 1. That I actually got in the kitchen and made something other than macaroni & sleaze and 2. because it's a miracle that we didn't eat them all before I took them to work. These are yummy! And super easy to make. Healthy too, oatmeal, eggs, flour... I feel good giving them to my toddler for breakfast! Heheh. I would post a picture, but we already ate them all. Oops!

Heather's Magical Cookie Bars
** Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes**

2 sticks butter
2 cups brown sugar
2 tsp vanilla
2 eggs
0.5 tsp salt
1.5 cup flour
4 cups oatmeal

Chocolate Sauce *melt in microwave
12 oz package of chocolate chips (I used Nestle semi-sweet)
1 can Eagle brand milk (sweetened condensed milk)
2 Tbs butter
1 tsp vanilla

Directions:

Mix ingredients together
Set aside1.5 cup of mixture, you will use this to crumble over top the chocolate sauce
Press remaining mixture into a thin layer on a sheet pan. This is the hardest part, sometimes its helpful to spray cling wrap with non-stick spray and then use that to flatten mixture onto pan.
Pour melted chocolate sauce over mixture
Crumble remaining mixture over the chocolate sauce.
Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes.
Give some away so you don't eat them all, like I tend to do! :)

When Pigs Fly

2009-04-29T09:18:00.009-08:00

"Thinking again?" the Duchess asked, with another dig of her sharp little
chin.

"I've a right to think," said Alice sharply, for she was beginning to feel a little worried.

"Just about as much right," said the Duchess, "as pigs have to fly...."

— Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Chapter 9.

A pandemic of fear is sweeping the globe, and much of that fear seems to be the fear of the unknown factor. I'll point out at that I am not a doctor, nor associated with the Center for Disease control, just a lowly worker in the medical field.

One thing I understand acutely is a patient's fear. Every day I spend much of my time at work soothing patients' fears about radiation effects, counseling them on a little understood part of everyday life. (Yes! That's right, radiation is a part of everyday life. You can't escape it, it is everywhere). Swine Flu is frightening because we don't know. We don't know precisely how it's being spread (a pig-bird-human strain? whaaat?), who has the highest risk for it, how to save yourself and your family from getting it?

My initial reaction to all this hooplah is, what's the big deal anyway? It's the flu. Sure, if you are elderly, have a miniscule immune system, or are a baby then you are at a higher risk to catch any strain of the flu. It gets me fired up to hear of thousands of people rushing out to get the flu vaccine when I know that the flu vaccine is an educated guess on what the next big flu strain of the year is going to be. On the radio this morning the deejays were discussing how the flu shot has skyrocketed from being previously available for $6 is now up to $70 a shot. The basic supply and demand scenario, and greedy pharmaceutical companies profit from it. Arrgh! But I digress.

Symptoms of the Swine Flu:
You should seek medical attention if have a fever of 102 or if you feel very sick. Swine flu has flu-like symptoms of lethargy or muscle aches or pains, fever, coughing, joint aches, severe headache and, in some cases, vomiting and diarrhea. Or if you have been to Mexico or in contact with someone from Mexico and you get sick, you might want to seek it sooner. Again and again public health officials emphasize that people should not be going to get medical attention just for the sniffles*. That would swamp medical facilities and make it more difficult for people who actually need medical care for all kinds of reasons, not just swine flu.

What this post all boils down to is this: Use your head. Do you work with pigs? Do you eat raw pork products? Do you like to play with mucus? (I have this revolting vision of people running through sneezes akin to children playing in a sprinkler. I think I may have had too much coffee this morning).

Best way to survive the flu threat?

Wash your hands frequently.

Become a hermit. Only use the internet to interact with people.**

Use anti-bacterial sanitizer if you can’t get to soap and water.

Wear a mask if you need a false sense of security. Most people don’t wear the masks correctly so you may be better off without it and just paying attention to your environment.

Wash your hands frequently.

Knowledge is power. Learn more about it for yourself:

· Center for Disease Control and Prevention
· World Health Organization
· WebMD.com

Yes, the Swine Flu looks like it is gathering speed to become the next big pandemic. Be like Alice, and think, don't be swept up into the panic of the masses. Use standard precautions, attempt to lower your stress level if possible. Happy minds can equal healthy bodies.***

______
*This little nugget of wisdom is always in effect. I work with ex-ER nurses who bitterly complain that most of the patients they have seen in the past are wasting precious time and resources by patients coming in when it's not an emergency. Go figure, right?

**What? I can advocate my misanthropic ways, can't I? Just because I have the social skills of a gnat doesn't meant that I don't know what I'm rambling on about!

***I'm stepping off my Soapbox now. Thankyouverymuch!

Yup. Gravity still works.

2009-04-27T13:41:00.004-08:00

Cute shoes, eh?

Wrong.

They are EVIL.

Every so often, my body decides to attempt to defy gravity. (Heaven knows my hair defies gravity on a daily basis, I consistently have Einstein hair when I wake up).

Now mostly if you saw my experiments with gravity you would attribute it to my natural lack of grace. It seems to me that if the floor is uneven a milimeter or so I'll find an invisible crack to trip on. This is why most of my shoes have a completetly flat sole, and hardly any traction. It actually helps me stay upright. Well most days. I had been looking at buying some Dankso shoes, as they come highly recommended from all my nurse coworkers. I sprang for these Sanita clogs, hoping that once I learned how to walk in them I'd be just dandy. And they are so cute! CUTE damnit!

Fast forward four days later. Surely I should have known better to attempt to jog in these clogs. I don't know what I was thinking. When M said "hurry we're gonna miss Em's show!" I busted out my trot ... and *BAM* I was lying on the floor writhing in agony. M thought I had dropped my keys on the ground, turned around just in time to see my fly through the air and land on my knees, and ending up face down. The crashing sound he heard was actually a tendon in my foot bitch-slapping me.

I limped to the auditorium, just in time to listen to Em give her author reading, and left shortly after that. I hoped that if I iced it, and kept my foot elevated that 10 hours later I would be well enough to return to work.

Wrong! When I tried to roll out of bed the next morning I couldn't put the slightest bit of pressure on my foot. Imagine my agony trying to get in the shower, it took me several minutes to figure out the only way I was getting past the tub was if I sat on the edge and swung my feet around. By the time I was ready for work, my right butt was cramping from all the hopping I was doing to get around.

Perhaps it would have been a good idea to call in sick. I wish I could! Unfortunately my coworker was out of town, and isotopes are expensive. I couldn't just leave all my patients hanging, many of who have to drive into Anchorage for the test. Yeah, I am a glutton for punishment.

By noon I was in serious pain, hoping that my foot wasn't broken. I had been zooming around on a chair most of the morning, looking like such a dork scooting backwards everywhere. Finally my boss got my coworker that works in the valley (an hour drive) to agree to drive in and finish up my patient load.

After hitting up the Urgent Care and discovering that my foot is only sprained (YAY!) I was able to spend the rest of Friday and the weekend babying my foot. And M bought me flowers and chocolate. Awwwww! Back at work today, and I'm still limping but able to get around without the crutch.

Moral of the story? I don't know. But I think it has something to do with vanity. :P

Eight is Great. Don't be a H8R. Such a dork, but you love me.

2009-04-17T14:44:00.003-08:00

8 Things I am looking forward to:

The weekend, and no working on Saturday! Wooo!
April 26 and Zoe's 4th birthday par-taaay at the House of Bounce. The fact that we only invited 9 kids other than the ones that live with us makes it awesomely small. I can handle that!
May 2 for our wild Girls-Only Hawaii-less Luau (how the heck do you spell that word?!) party. True story, M will be leaving for Hawaii that afternoon and his ex-wife will already be there until the following Monday. That means I get custody of all the girls so we are going to have a par-taaaaay. Cranking up the heat, eating hawaiian pizza, and wearing grass skirts. You wish you could be there, I know!
My 30th birthday, I believe a person needs to re-invent themselves (if you are a Gemini like myself, I get to use the plural version. Ha!) every decade. For my 20th I went with becoming a heathen. I need to think about how I'm going to reinvent myself for the next ten years.
My Mom and her new man coming to Alaska to visit and help celebrate my big 3-0.
Camping and fishing and all sorts of fun stuff while they are here in Alaska.
Going to Seattle for the first time in June. Yay for M who has lots of friends who have been getting married since we've met.
Excited about my brother's wedding (Colorado in September). Zoe gets to be the flower girl, we are going to practice throwing flower petals all summer long. :D

8 Things I did yesterday:

Woke up at 5 a.m. to get ready for work.
Went to the court house for the custody hearing.
Waited for the Ex to show up (15 minutes late) , had the Judge ask why we were having a hearing if we both agreed on everything. (Because J didn't turn in the paperwork. Ever).
15 minutes later, I was awarded full physical and legal custody. YES!!
Went to Village Inn for biscuits and gravy, and tea to calm my stomach.
Drama drama drama, when J didn't want to meet me so I could pick up Zoe. Ugh!
Arrived home at 9 p.m. and got Zoe in the tub.
Read princess stories, and snuggled with my babygirl. All the drama, heartache, upset stomach; completely worth it to have her throw her little arm around my neck and fall asleep nose to nose in her twin bed.

8 Things I wish I could do:

Give a really awesome massage
Cook an amazing meal. Something other than macaroni & cheese, or pizza. ;)
Telekenesis.
Touch my toes without writhing in agony. Someday...
Get a tan. An even tan, not the freckly-speckly mess that I get.
Play my guitar and sing at the same time. And have it sound amazing, not like a cat in heat.
Kick some ass in jujutsu. Instead of spraining my back trying to do a forward roll.
Learn to take amazing photos.

8 Shows I watch:
(I don't have any television channels, but I do rent seasons of stuff on DVD)
((Also, these are in no particular order))

Dexter
Grey's Anatomy
Lost (although (I admit, I lost interest after the second season)
Dead Like Me
Extreme Elimination Challenge
True Blood
South Park
Heroes

I tag:

SJ & Funnygal Kat @ http://funnygals.blogspot.com/

Ian @ http://icantthinkofanythingcleverjustnow.blogspot.com/

Jalee @ http://joshandjalee.blogspot.com/

Andy @ http://wildarschase.blogspot.com/

Maggie Lou @ http://thefullmagoo.blogspot.com/

Emily @ http://ajandemrounds.blogspot.com/

Sarah Kay (even though she tagged me first, this is her other blog! HA!) @ http://sasaisforlovers.blogspot.com/

YOU! Uh, if anybody else reads this. ;)

Coolest freaking movie I've seen in a long time

2009-04-11T15:25:00.007-08:00

Banlieue 13 (english translation District 13).

released in 2004

Synopsis:

In the near future, the worst ghettos of Paris, France are literally walled off and among the worst is District B13. Controlled by the ruthless crime lord, Taha, a young righteous punk named Leïto is determined to clean up his corner of the neighborhood by bringing him down. Betrayed by the outside police force, Leïto is imprisoned and his sister kidnapped by Taha.

Six months later, a crackerjack undercover cop named Damien is given a urgent mission: a neutron bomb has been stolen by Taha in District B13 which has an automatic timer function engaged and set to detonate in less than 24 hours. Now with time running out, Damien and Leïto must work together to find and stop the bomb, but there is far more to this crisis than any of the field players realize.

This movie came highly recommended by one of M's jujutsu buddies, with the admonition to "watch it with subtitles!!". The only subtitled action movies I'd seen were martial arts/japanese movies, I was intrigued to watch a french movie.

B13 has a solid storyline (except for the Neutron bomb, that part was whack... but only because I actually know a little bit about radiation, yo!)

Incredibly fast action, amazing to watch the fight scenes. And the eye candy for the ladies... David Belle (the hottie to the left) is the main character, who is also the real life inventor of a discipline known as Parkour, which consists of moving quickly and efficiently in any environment, using only the abilities of the human body. Freaking urban ninja monkeys!

Highly recommend this movie! Go watch it. Now!!

Tonight I'm gonna party like it's 1999

2009-04-11T15:14:00.004-08:00

Tonight I have a wedding to go to, some of Mark's Seibukan Jujustu buddies are getting married. I'm interested to see how it all comes together. Rumor has it that the bride's dress is purple and chosen to highlight her tattoos, and everybody else is wearing tuxes. This is probably because her "Matron of Honor" is actually a dude. The wedding is at the River City Saloon, and instead of dancing afterwards, they are going to have a gaming session (Wii, Xbox, you name it). Maybe even a LAN party. Woo! I have no idea what to wear!!

Don't you wish you had uber cool people to hang out with like I do?! I love non-traditional people, and Alaska is full of 'em! I will bring my camera and post paparazzi pictures so you can be green with envy.

Happy Easter!

Yes, I realize I am going to hell. ;)

Surprise!

2009-04-04T14:24:00.001-08:00

I finally figured out how to blog from my phone. This could be so awesome!

Or maybe not. Just testing the waters here. And also checking to see how the phone-pics come across. So here's a random picture!
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I'm feelin' catty.

2009-04-03T14:50:00.004-08:00

Did I say catty? I meant crafty...

The first five people to respond to this post will get something handmade by me! My choice. For you. This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:

1- I make no guarantees that you will like what I make!

2- What I create will be just for you.

3- It will be done this year.

4- You will have no clue what it's going to be. It may be a story. It may be photography or an article on properly cleaning your face before a masque. I may sew or paint something. I may bake you something and mail it to you. Who knows? Not you, that's for sure!

5- I reserve the right to do something extremely strange.

The catch? Oh, the catch is that you must post this on your blog and offer the same to the first 5 people who follow the directions. Oh, and be sure to post a picture of what you win when you get it!}

Finally! Some Zoe birthday Pictures

2009-04-02T17:20:00.004-08:00

I am struggling with the picture posting. I see all these amazing blogs with multiple pictures and they look great When I try to post pictures they are all skeewampus. Yes, that's right. Skeeewampus! So what the heck, I'll post anyway. And my 5 readers will just have to deal. :) Love ya! I will also mention that this is about the 4th time I have tried to post this blog specifically. Somehow it disappears into the blogiverse, but that only makes this whole gig more interesting. Riiiiiight.

My sweet Zoe girl turned 4 on March 23. I can hardly believe that she will be a kindergartner before I know it. I know I shouldn't be surprised, but I am. Where did my baby go?

Zoe loves to dress up. She would wear a dress every day, if we had enough tights to go with it. When we get home at the end of the day, chances are that she will either put on a princess dress, or dress up her barbies. Yes, that is precisely why her cake says "Happy Birthday Princess Zoe". Emerald encrusted a foam crown with sparkly rhinestones, but Zoe didn't find it the next day where she insisted on wearing it everywhere. Awesome!

Emerald picked out the blue dress for Z's birthday, and she immediately had to put it on. I think Eme was almost as excited as Zoe about the dress. You'd never guess that she likes to ham it up in front of the camera!

The white dress with flowers is one of the many sundresses she got from her dad for her birthday. I seriously need to get more warm-ish tights so she can wear her dresses so there will be less fighting in the morning as we get ready to head out for the day.

Don't pay attention to the christmas wrapping paper. Too be politically-correct at Christmas we tallied up all the presents to make sure that none of the girls received more presents than the others. A few of Zoe's presents went back into my closet until her birthday rolled around. I was too busy (ahem, lazy) to re-wrap with the barbie princess wrapping paper.

On a side note, I did have the comments lined up with the photos at one point. But I'm too busy (*ahem* lazy) to try and make it cohesive.

Radiation Safety Officer

2009-03-23T17:20:00.003-08:00

Last week I attended the Radiation Safety Officer program in Las Vegas, Nv. The weather was gorgeous! In the mid-70's, sunshine, bliss! Although I spent the majority of each day inside going to class, I still managed to get an itty-bitty sunburn.

The class, given by Nevada Technical Associates was everything I could have asked for. We even went on a field trip to the Atomic Testing Museum. Woo! Mostly the class was a refresher on subjects that I had already learned, but now I'm certified to be a Radiation Safety Officer.

An interesting tidbit I learned, did you know that the Brazilian nut is the most naturally radioactive food? Often more than 10,000 times more radiaoactive than any other food because of the soil it is grown in. See, you are halfway to becoming a RSO yourself!

On a side note, today is Z's 4th birthday! I will have to post more of that later.

A few life experiences

2009-03-11T16:58:00.002-08:00

I HAVE....
Do it yourself! Copy and paste the list into your blog and bold or highlight the items you have done. Here we go....

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language --Double Dutch counts right?
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David -- not in person, but I've seen it.
41. Sung karaoke -- be glad you missed it!
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted -- I'm counting the time I had the artist at Disneyworld scribble me and my bestest
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt --finished it this winter, woo!
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Been in love

Hairbinks Vacation notes

2009-03-10T18:38:00.003-08:00

Life has been getting craaaazy. Ok, not getting really it's just keeping up the pace with the crazies lately.

We went on our first real roadtrip with ALL the girls. Fairbanks for the Ice Carving Championship. Took the long way up there, so eight hours with three girls crammed into the back seat of the truck.

Ice carvings were ahhhhmazing. And we all had a blast on the ice slides. I love that I am not required (ever) to act like a stuffy adult. I think that's probably why M's daughters like me so much. I love getting goofy, hamming it up. Eventually this will turn into a major embarassment for them, but for now they dig it.

Next we spent some time at the University of Alaska Fairbanks Museum. This is the first time I've been to a musuem with somebody I was sweet on, it was fun to discuss the exhibits and try to lose the kids. Just kidding about the losing the kids part. Mostly. :)

Ride home from Fairbanks (or Hairbinks as Zoe called it all weekend) was uneventful until the little voice in the backseat piped up "I have to go peeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!" My sweet girl, is entirely a princess girly-girl. We pulled off to the side of the road and I was trying to explain proper ettiquette for roadside pit stops. Eventually I had to just whip it out (figuratively of course!) and show her how it was done. Lots of giggling ensued, but she successful did her business. Five minutes down the road, "Mama, I gotta go peeeeeee!". I'm guessing she had so much fun with her previous adventure that she wanted to try it again. I hope this isn't going to turn into a new phase.

A few miles outside of Willow there was a massive traffic snarl. One moment we're cruising at 55 mph, and then slamming on the brakes for the stand-still traffic. I kept looking for the major accident I thought had slowed us down, when it occured to us... it's the opening of the Iditarod. And the racers start in Willow.

Smart! Perhaps next time, we'll plan that a little better. Overall,, our first little family vacation was a success! No bodily injury, no hurt feelings, minimal bickering. And lots of fun outside playing in the snow and ice. Score! I'm almost ready to start thinking abou twhere we'll go next.

Conversations with an almost 4 year old

2009-03-04T09:08:00.003-09:00

Now this may not seem like much to other people with kids the same age, but I am so amazed at the progress my daughter has made since she got into the speech-therapy preschool. Before school, according to the testing she had the vocabulary of an 18 month old (at the age of 3). Now she sings songs, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star being her favorite, and will make up songs as she goes.

Last week.
Me: "You are such a cute punkinhead!"
Z: "I'm NOT a punkinhead mama, I'm a BARBIEGIRL!!!"

Yesterday.
Z: "Spiderman is cool."
This caught me off guard with its randomness, so I burst out laughing.
Z: "Are you laughing at me mama?"
Me: "No baby, I'm laughing because you are awesome!"
Z: "I'm not awesome. You are awesome mama!"

Tuesday after work, I picked up Z at daycare. The kids still waiting for their parents were playing in the indoor gym. I walked through the door to see my daughter laughing and pointing at another child, who was crying. Now this boy wasn't just crying, he was bawling, with streamers of spit and snot.

"Z! That's not ok! Why are you laughing at Peter?" I exclaim. She continues to laugh and point. Uh.... Turns out that the little guy was throwing a massive temper tantrum, and my daughter just thought it was hilarious. Not sure what to do about this, just roll with it I suppose.

A Day off in the Life of GG

2009-01-31T17:15:00.005-09:00

The twilight sky has an ominous purple overcast, lightning looks imminent although I have yet to see a single thunderbolt in Alaska. The car is making a funky sound, so we drive it to the Dealership that is curiously placed on the outskirt of my hometown. Beyond the workers there, the place is deserted. Must be about time to close up shop. After I drop off my keys, I see my sweetheart driving away in the rental car. Without me.

What the heck?! I know I have to be heading to work soon, I glance at my watch and realize that I better start hoofing it if I want to make it home in time.

The wind is whipping my hair around my face, blowing grit into my eyes. I'm muttering to myself about how completely miffed I am, I don't have my cell phone or purse with me - I had left them in the car. Walking quickly down the deserted road, I see off in the distance a man in plaid flannel shirt and a straw hat walking on the right hand side of the road. I squint, because it appears to be more than one man, in fact there are 3 guys all wearing the same outfit walking about on the same side of the road, single file, but about 2 blocks apart. Something is eerie about their gait, they are all marching in step in spite of the distance. Feeling dread, I glance behind me and see that there are many more of these... scarecrows. My fight-or-flight reflexes kick in and I start running forward. As I near the scarecrow closest to me, I can hear him grunting softly. Ugh! I pick up the pace, glance over as I about to pass it and see that he's not just a scarecrow but a ZOMBIE scarecrow! The stench wafting from his rotting body makes me increase my pace, but the bugger keeps pace. I should really work out more. Before I know it the Zombie Scarecrow and I are chatting it up, his name is Giles and he looks oddly similar to the Librarian from Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

My eyes fly open and I realize that I'm already sitting up in bed. Whoa! What a doozy of a dream. This dream almost competes with the one I had about surfing with a purple gorilla as my surfboard. Zombie Scarecrows. Awesome!

I've been trying to be more domestic lately, I've always been decent about keeping a clean house but I don't strain myself in the kitchen. Most everything I make has been frozen and pre-cooked. Or canned. M mentions in the morning that he'd like to make meatloaf for dinner (this man can cook, I'm so lucky!). I think that's something I can figure out, so I go to my dusty red and white plaid cookbook, and start planning. I really don't want to go grocery shopping so I chose to use whatever I have on hand. Which includes ground beef that was frozen two years ago. Should still be decent, right?

I spend most of the morning piecing my star quilt together (quite possibly the dorkiest quilt made in the history of mankind, I'll post pictures of that gem later!). I don't know what has gotten into me this winter, in November I decided to sign up for a sewing class even though I hadn't sewn since I was a kid. I have a sewing machine that I received as a present six years ago and had only taken it out of the box and put it in the carrying case. On the first day of the class I tell my coworker that I'm going to chicken out, who cares that I had to pay for the class in advance. I had no idea how to even thread the bobbin! Amazingly enough, he know his way around a sewing machine. I lugged the machine in from the car and my coworker gave me the rundown on how to get things going.

Based on my success with sewing a semi-straight stitch, my sweetie's daughters decide that we should sew some flannel pajama pants. I spent all of my free time yesterday making Zoe a pair of pj pants so that I could help the girls make their own today after school, and feel like I knew what I was doing. (Her pj pants turned out great, other than being too baggy for her little frame).

After homework is finished, I get the girls started on doing a zig zag stitch around the edges of their fabric. This is not successful. They do not like picking out stitches when they are way off. We ditch the zig-zag, Eme has already lost interest and is reading Harry Potter in her room. I'm multi-tasking, helping Skye when she needs it and working on dinner.

I don't like how the recipe calls for barbeque sauce on top, my mom always had the most awesome meatloaf recipe but I can't get a hold of her. So I call my grandma for advice for the sauce, she recommends adding brown sugar to ketchup and then baking it.

Zoe has been very helpful in the whole process of making dinner in her satin princess dress. She's got her tiara on, and heels too. I'm fretting about the meatloaf, I don't think it's going to turn out right. Mark returns home victoriously with the brown sugar and I add the glaze halfway through baking. Finally dinner is ready, I hand Zoe her plate of food to take to the table and turn around to continue serving the rest of the plates when I hear a CRASH and Zoe wailing. She slipped while wearing her dress-up heels and has landed on her bum with her dinner coating her from head to heel. Poor baby! The family springs into action, us girls give Zoe loves and get her changed, while Chewy our dog snarfs down the meatloaf on the floor. Five minutes later we are ready to sit at the table when I hear a ralfing noise and to my horror see the dog vomiting meatloaf on the rug.

Great. Now I don't want anybody to eat the meatloaf, its gotta be horrible if even the dog can't keep it down! Everybody is brave and tries it anyway. Surprise, it was actually decent! I can't wait to try it again, except this time with fresh meat and my mom's recipe.

Zombie scarecrows, crafty sewing, meatloaf disasters... All a day in the life of MJ.

Dumb Blonde Salute time!

2009-01-13T17:24:00.002-09:00

"Herrooo?" says me as I answer the phone at work.

BF: "Guess what I just found on the kitchen table?!"

Me: "Uh, yeah so I meant to tell you about that... wait... What are you talking about?"

BF: "Your car keys!"

Me: "CRAP!"

We carpooled into work today, Puker drove my car. I didn't even think to check for my keys because I always keep them either in my purse or my coat pocket. Usually in my coat because I have a habit of leaving the house without it, so this makes me have to bring it. I'd imagine that most people think that's incredibly dumb to forget to put on your coat in the winter in Alaska, especially with the weather being -20 degrees all last week.

Long story short, he caught the bus home because he assistant-teaches a kids jujutsu class tonight, and I don't get off work until after 6 p.m. I have the car here, with no keys. This is pretty classic behavior on my part. I'm notorious for locking myself out of my house, or locking the keys in the car. (I can't do that anymore, I have a smartkey.)

I love feeling like a dumb blonde.

Which is why I'm dying my hair fire-engine red again on Friday. Artificial Intelligence ya'll!

2008 in a Nutshell:

2008-12-19T14:29:00.003-09:00

1. Where did you begin 2008?

Sitting on the couch, watching a movie with my new guy. We were going through a John Cusack movie phase. Every movie we rented the first few months had Cusack in it.

2. What was your status by Valentine's Day?

In loooooove. And surprised as hell about that. Having been burned badly in my previous relationship, I was fully expecting some scarring to go on. What can I say, I got lucky.

3. Were you in school anytime this year?

Only the School of Hard Knocks

4. Did you have to go to the hospital?

Yes, had knee surgery in February. I was at the hospital quite a bit, between the ortho appointments, the surgery, and the gushing knee post surgery. The best part of that emergency room visit is when the doctor couldn't find a pulse in my foot, leading me to freak out and think my foot would be amputated. Fun! Not even two weeks later, Zoe broke her arm at daycare (got pushed by a boy, awww!). And then Skye busted her femur in a freak sledding accident, the week after that Eme fell off the monkeybars at school and fractured her arm. So imagine 2 of us on crutches, and 2 kiddos with casts on. Mark is the only one who survived all of 2008 unscathed. Knock on wood!

5. Did you have any encounters with the police?

No, not even a speeding ticket.
(Praise the lord, halleluah!)

6. Where did you go on vacation?

Utah and Las Vegas.

7. What did you purchase that was over $100?

Groceries usually cost me more than $100. Oh, I bought a new car this year. A cherry red Prius. Felt so awesome going from 10 mpg to 45 mpg. Yay!

8. Did you know anybody who got married?

Yes, went to a few weddings this year. Puker caught the garter at one of them, I neatly sidestepped the bouquet. No thanks!

9. Did you know anybody who passed away?

Yes, my Grandpa Anderson

10. Did you move anywhere?

I moved the end of June, a whole 17 miles away. Woo!

11. What sporting events did you attend?

A few Hockey Games. I have no clue what is going on out there, but it is so entertaining. I like it when they crash into the boards, and when the helmets go flying and they are kicking the shite out of each other. Good times! And nobody minds it when Zoe runs up and hurls insults at whoever is in the penalty box. Aren't 3 year olds precocious! :D

12. What concerts/shows did you go to?

We tried to go to a Gangly Moose show but they canceled at the last minute. Lame! I've gone to 2 Alpenglow Elementary Holiday Concerts last week, does that count?

13. Describe your birthday:

The day I realized I only have a year left until I am officially a grown up.

Spent it with my honey's bestest friends, they built a bonfire for me. What awesome people!

14. What is the one thing you thought you would not do, but did, in 2008?

Move in with an (awesome!) guy after only dating him for 6 months.

15. What has been your favorite moments?

Sitting around the bonfire, listening to my friends sing drunkenly, going fishing in Seward, and Kenai, Canoeing, hiking with my honey. Good times!

16. Any new additions to your family?

I inherited a Precious cat, we renamed her Snagglepuss. Awesomest cat ever!

17. What was your best month?

Ooh. They were all good! June was difficult, that's when the dissolution was finally done.

18. Who has been your best drinking buddy?

Puker

19. Made new friends?

Yeah, I think so anyway!

20. Favorite Nights out?

Going to the pub with Melissa, Therese, and Puker. Hanging out around the campfire with my friends

21. Other than home, where did you spend most of your time?

Work. Der!

22. Have you lost any friends this year?

No. I haven't lost my keys this year either!

23. Change your hairstyle?

Not the style, but the color fo' sure. I'm thinking of a change next year, my hair is just... difficult. If I don't wear it long it frizzes out even more. Bozo in 2009, sounds like fun!

24. Have any car accidents?

No. Knock on wood!

25. How old did you turn this year?

29, sob, sob, sob.

26. Do you have a New Years resolution?

Yes, to make wiser financial investments and get my first million in the bank.
lol

27. Do anything embarrassing?

I'm so used to embarrassing myself that it doesn't even phase me anymore. So nothing comes to mind right now!

28. Buy anything new from eBay?

Yes I sure did, a few christmas presents.

30. Get arrested?

Nope, and I am knocking on wood for next year, and the rest of my life. Geez, you'd think I was superstitious or something.

31. Been snowboarding yet?

No, I'm too chicken to snowboard. Bad knees and all that, but I've been cross-country skiing quite a few times this year

32. Did you get sick this year?

Yes, seems like more than usual now that I think about it. Stomach flu, sinus infections. Ugh.

33. Are you happy to see 2008 go?

Not as happy as I was too see 2007 go buh-bye.

34. Been naughty or nice?

Can't I be both? ;)

Hostage Negotiation 101

2008-12-18T20:25:00.004-09:00

Child custody arrangements should not feel like a hostage negotiation.

The terrorist demands that I take the hostage this weekend, because he needs to let off some steam, "I need a break" says he. In return, he wants to cut into my week and spend time with our daughter on Monday and Tuesday. This doesn't work for me.

Hostage Negotiation Session 1: Texting

Baby's Daddy (BD) "I know im watching zoe this week, but can you take her on friday and sat... Would be a big favor... and id take her on the 23rd... cuz her gifts arnt here yet"

Me: "I appreciate you asking in advance. I'm not interested in trading days. I would be happy to pick her up Friday night and then you'll get her back as scheduled on Monday the 29th."

BD: "Can I have her on the 23rd?"

(I labored over my previous text message, I attempted to be as clear and concise as I could be).

Me: "I don't like the back and forth. What a mess. My deal stands, if you want me to take her early then I want to keep her until my scheduled visit is up."

BD: "Why? It'll be one day out of the week... Dont be like that... Ill just drop her off the next day"

Me: "I'm doing you a favor right? Those are my terms, take it or leave it"

BD: "Fine"

... hours later...

BD: "Im not trying to cause problems... I just thought it would be nice for zoe to see both of us close to christmas one last time." (he's moving to Oklahoma in March or so).

Without fail, whenever we attempt to discuss custody arrangements we bickertext, I'll get fed up and stop responding to his texts. I commented to my SO that sooner rather than later I would be getting a message saying Zoe is sick. He has pulled that little stunt at least 6 times in the last year.

Hostage Negotiation Session 2: Attempt to guilt trip

... 3 days later ...

BD: "Zoe is sick :-("

Hostage Negotiation Session 3: Physical Intimidation

Then today at about 4:30 I get a phone call, he's asking if I can pick up Z from daycare, because he's on call and has a VQ study to do (lung ventilation scan, typically looking for a blood clot in the lungs). Now I know I'm going to have to deal with him in person. We meet up at Target, We're waiting for him at the foodcourt. After calling him twice to see where he is, both times he says "I'm here in the front, I'll see you in a second". Twenty minutes later, he appears. With black satin sheets that he'd just purchased. Ewww. Anyway.

I could go into all the lurid details (but really they aren't all that interesting). Just imagine a 6'3" guy in his airforce uniform getting all up in my grill because I won't argue with him. Public place, hello? Zoe watching her parents fight? No thanks. Yelling, causing a scene and me ignoring him. Oh yeah, I feel like I've been magically transported back to junior high. Gah!

Resolution (because I'm a peacemaker, like most women I know): I'll take her Friday and Saturday, he'll drive and pick her up Sunday morning. So yeah. I don't want him coming to my house to pick her up, which is a lot of my reason behind not switching. We do all the drop-off/pick-ups at her daycare, it's much easier this way. Less bloodshed. Hell, my restraining order against him hasn't been expired for that long. Fun times!

End note: I've been meaning to blog a lot more, but whenever I log in I'm drawn into reading everybody's wonderfully funny and interesting posts and two things will happen.
1. I'll have immense writer's block due to self-criticism
2. I'll run out of time and then promise that I'll try again the next day. Rinse, repeat. :)

An Ode to Beaver

2008-12-06T14:49:00.002-09:00

I traveled home for my grandfather's funeral over the Thanksgiving holiday. He has always been inordinately proud of our hometown, Beaver Utah. He wore a Beaver, UT pin on his lapel, as a "conversation starter" he would say. I would get a lecture every time I mentioned how I could not wait until I graduated so I could move to somewhere in the real world. Not that I've been living in the "real world" for 12 years, I can respect what a gem this small town is.

((Ok so by this point you have probably realized that I'm not going to talk about my big brown beaver. Oh man if I could only get a song to play on this blog, it would definitely by Primus' song about that))

So here it is, a top five list of interesting facts about Beaver, Utah.

5. The inventor of television, Philo T. Farnsworth,was born here.
4. Butch Cassidy, the notorious western outlaw, was also born in Beaver, Ut
3. Voted best drinking water in America
2. A population of 2,631, with a crime scale of 2 (10 being the highest), kids can actually play outside or walk to the park all by themselves!

And the greatest thing about Beaver, Utah?
The Eager Beaver Car Wash! haha, I so wish I had gotten a picture of that before I left town to post on here.

If you are into outdoorsy endeavors, Beaver has got it all. Golf, a ski resort, lots of atv trails, great hiking, fishing, hunting. Sure, I always tease that it's Vanilla Central (94% are white, 73% are Mormon, and 79% are Republican) but the people are super friendly and all in all I should be proud to say I'm from Beaver, Utah. Instead of stretching the truth and telling people that I'm from Colorado. Sure, my family all moved there after I graduated, but I got so tired of the questions. "Are ya mormon?" "What was your mascot?" Sheesh people!

To sum up, I'm proud to be a Beaver Beaver! Go BHS! ;)

Oversharing. You've been warned!

2008-11-26T11:31:00.000-09:00

Being a completely new to blogging, I've stumbled on to some really fun bloggers that I am now obsessed with. One of my new favorite imaginary friends is Andy. He's thrown down the gauntlet, and I'm looking forward to the challenge.

100 Totally Awesome Random things about me!

1. My first name is Heather
2. Dad wanted to name me Paulie. Thanks Mom!
3. My mom gave me the middle name Rainbow.
4. She was driving down Rainbow Blvd in Las Vegas and thought it would be perfectly acceptable to name her daughter after a weed and a trashy boulevard.
5. My parents were (are?) also hippies. It made sense.
6. The parents divorced when I was 3.
7. I didn't officially meet my dad again until I was 15.
8. I was raised as the oldest of 4 kids, but I actually have an older half brother that I've met a few times and a half sis that I've met 3 times. Also rumored that there is another older brother but I don't even know what his name is. Dad believed in Free Love!
9. My Mom remarried when I was 5.
10. I grew up on a farm in southern Utah.
11. That's right. I was raised in the LDS church (Mormon's for all ya'll who don't know).
12. I can be incredibly naive.
13. My mom smoked pot all through my high school career and I had no idea.
14. She also posed for Playboy my Junior year of highschool. I didn't find this out until last year.
15. LAST YEAR! Almost 15 years after the fact. My brother knew, and he never told me!
16. That could be because of the intense psychological scarring due to him trying to get into my mom's pot stash and finding "porn" (actually was just one of those softcore lingerie shoots) in there. His buddies were watching it with him and after a few minutes pointed out "Dude, THAT'S YOUR MOM!"
17. I'm super proud that my mom was in Playboy at 40. This gives me hope that one day I'll magically turn into a swan. Ha!
18. No, I won't tell you what issue she was in. Stop asking already!
19. I have pyromanic tendencies. My best friend and I burned down a field when we were kids. Luckily only sagebrush incinerated before her dad happened to drive by and put out the fire.
20. Both of my childhood best friends got pregnant at the age of 15.
21. This freaked me out so much that I didn't have sex until I was just a few months shy of 20.
22. Yes. Pre-marital sex... by this time I was a Jack-Mormon.
23. Which is pretty surprising considering that I used to be quite the Molly Mormon. This was my way of rebelling against my parents.
24. I swear like a sailor.
25. My daughter is the only kid in her daycare that drops the f-bomb. Fuck! Gotta work on watching the language.
26. Just realized that I may have filled out one of these 100 things about me before.
27. If I did, its not saved on this computer. Damnit!
28. I used to compete at the County Fair Rodeo.
29. Barrel racing, and the poles.
30. My horse was so old I'm amazed she didn't keel over when we competed.
31. Her name was Heidi.
32. My first horse was named Scooter.
33. I was dumb one day and walked up behind Scooter without any warning.
34. She kicked my scrawny ass and I went flying across the street. Left a horseshoe shaped bruise that I really hoped would scar.
35. It didn't.
36. After that incident I was so scared of horses that I refused to go near them for years.
37. I hate the saying about how you should get back on a horse after you get bucked off. If I were a horse and bucked somebody off, and then they climbed back on, you can be damn sure that I'd buck them off again!
38. Speaking of scars. I have lots of them. Chicks dig scars, right? Um, well except I'm not into chicks so much.
39. I got ran over by a '67 Ford truck when I was 6 years old.
40. By the janitor of the elementary school, on school property.
41. Why am I not rich?! Because my parents don't believe in suing.
42. Which is why I went to a crappy junior college.
43. And then joined the military to continue my education.
44. My first 2 knee surgeries were because of the "incident".
45. I've had an additional 2 knee surgeries since then, with the last being in February.
46. I love to read.
47. I can easily read a book a day. As long as its not non-fiction.
48. It took me a very long time to learn to read. Wasn't until I found books that I liked to read that I really became a bookworm.
49. I hate math.
51. Mostly because I'm dyslexic with numbers. I'll understand the concept of math, but get the numbers transposed and then I'm toast.
52. When I was a kid I wanted to be a screenwriter when I grew up.
53. Or an actress.
54. Or an archeologist.
55. Or a doctor.
56. Or a writer.
57. Or an astronomer.
58. Instead I became a radiology technologist.
59. And then a nuclear medicine technologist.
60. But I'm bored and now I'm going back to school in January.
61. I think I'll major in underwater basket weaving.
62. So really, I still have no idea what I want to be when I grow up.
63. In spite of the fact that I make really good money doing my job.
64. Oh yeah, I wanted to be a photographer too...
65. I'm a major league clutz.
66. I consistently trip over non-existent cracks in the floor.
67. I run into door frames daily.
68. I blame this on two things.
69. A. I have no depth perception. Wish I had known this before I signed up for Little League baseball.
70. Broke my nose two times trying to catch a fly ball, and I still signed up to play a second season. Glutton for punishment!
71. B. Uh. I'm pretty sure I had a point here.
72. Oh, I wanted to be a helicopter pilot! Failed the vision test for obvious reasons.
73. ADD runs in my family. I don't have ADHD and function pretty well so I went undiagnosed but if you ever get me talking (or typing) its really hard to follow my rapid lane changes in conversations.
74. My nickname is Matilda Jane.
75. When I was 3 I refused to answer to my own name and would only respond if called "Matilda Jane".
76. No one in my family knows where this nick name came from.
77. When I was in basic training my Grandma would send me stuff she had been working on, geneology mostly. I was amazed how many Matilda's, Jane's, and and all sorts of variations on the name that are in my family line.
78. My best friend's nickname are Bubba Sue and Maggie Lou.
79. My boyfriend's nickname is Puker. I have the hardest time calling him this, even though I've been asked more than once not to call him by his given name.
80. He calls me MJ. I love that.
81. Just realized that a lot of this stuff I'm typing isn't necessarily about me. Still interesting-ish I hope though!
82. I have naturally curly hair.
83. No idea as to what it's natural hair color is though.
84. Spanish was my first language.
85. I can't actually speak spanish any more.
86. I can barely speak english, quite honestly. I have a large vocabulary, but a speech impediment that pops up occasionally where I say a word the way I read it, not necessarily how it's pronounced.
87. I can speak double dutch though! Which has nothing to do with jumping rope. It's a bastard cousin of pig-latin.
88. I like to bake goodies, but I am a terrible "cook"
89. More than once I served my hubby practically raw chicken. In my defense, our oven wasn't working properly. I cooked it for 45 minutes, it should have been done!
90. I used to be a World of Warcraft junkie. I even have the multiple level 70 characters to prove it.
91. Haven't played WoW since my ex-husband and I separated over a year ago.
92. I was really really really mad at him when we separated (der!) and deleted all of his characters. And then changed his password. Vindictive much?
93. I also stopped watching tv. Well, I watch movies.
94. And my favorite shows when they come out on DVD.
95. I have no idea how I ever got anything accomplished before.
96. My first job other than babysitting was cleaning hotel rooms during the summer. I was 12 years old.
97. I've worked at Arby's, Wendy's, Chevron in highschool. As a nanny, a hostess, college computer lab tech, a CNA, material's testing lab technician, uh I'm sure I'm forgetting some. Oh yeah, like my current job.
98. I've currently got a cat named Snagglepuss, she has 7 toes on each foot.
99. And a 12 year old dog named Chewbacca (who is actually the BF's but Chewy sleeps on the floor on my side of the bed so I think he's adopted me).
100. I took 8 years of piano lessons. I can only play christmas music and chopsticks. I also took clarinet, guitar, and flute lessons. I can't play any of those any more. Lame!

Happy Un-birthday to me!

2008-11-24T12:51:00.000-09:00

Six months ago I turned 29. Six more months until I hit the big 3-0. The dirty thirty. I had a bit of a crisis on my last birthday, realizing that I may already be past my expiration date. Divorced (all but the ink was dry on the dissolution decree), single mom, 30 pounds over weight, recovering from my 4th knee surgery, degenerative joint disease. These are supposed to be the best years of my life? Fer crying out loud!

I made a goal. To be in the best shape of my life by May 24, 2009. So how's it coming along? Yeah.... how is that coming along? *snickers* This sticker sums it up.

I've lost weight, I've gained it back. I've been so good for a few months, keeping track of every morsel that crosses my lips. Working out. Then slaaaaaaaaaacking. Oh yeah, I love to be lazy. Sit in my corner reading chair and zone out for days at a time. If I could only eradicate my sweet tooth, I could make some progress. Sweet tooth, and my lazy bones. But if I did that, I'd be low on calcium, right?

A favorite quote of mine by A.Lee Martinez from his novel A Nameless Witch.

"It's easy to defeat life-or-death ordeals. Such tribulations demand success. It's the small tests that require something more from us. When we can turn and walk away is when we find what we're made of."

When I read that, I had to immediately read and re-read it again. What an amazing truth. So I will keep this in mind, and in six months I'll give you the update. Keep your fings crossed for me, so that I will find what I'm made of with the small steps.

Hold on a second, while I use my steroids.

2008-11-24T12:38:00.000-09:00

I have almost finished up my month long round of using steroid eye drops. Soon I'll be able to wear my contacts again, hopefully. And it got me to thinking, wouldn't that be so cool if steroid eye drops could give a comicbook hero x-ray vision? I don't see why not. Look at how many awesome mutations these average joe's have from radiation (the hulk, spiderman, and I'm not as well versed on comicbooks but you catch my drift, aye?).

First dates where you ask each other these insightful questions as you countdown to the first kiss, one I like to volley is "what would your superpower be?".

"Uh...."

Surprisingly accurate on finding out who has an imagination. I don't dig no guys who can't use their grey matter! :P My power? If I could only choose one would be invisibility. Although... With this power I would not be a hero. My intuition is that I would end up being a villain. I'm okay with this, actually. It's the reason why I'll never go into politics. "Absolute power corrupts absolutely"

Imagine, never having to buy a plane ticket again, to listen in to any conversation. I used to daydream about this a lot when I was going through the end days of my marriage, trying to stalk the hubbers, to find out all the lies he was feeding me. Yeah, that was the road to sanity... suuuuure.

I walk the line between black and white, my world is composed mostly of shades of gray. I'm dating a guy who has a very strong sense of right and wrong. I enjoy his viewpoint, but it makes me realize how far I've faded into the darkside sometimes. Muhahah!

No, I can only use my powers for good.

2008-11-15T16:56:00.000-09:00

Aaargh! Attempting to find a name for my blog was frustrating. Every thing that I could think of had already been taken, and then quickly abandoned six years ago. I'm just not that original I suppose, but then the epiphany occurred... surely no one has taken my nickname at work and voila! A blog is born.

A little background about myself. I'm a Nuclear Medicine technologist (thus the "Geiger Girl"), I've been working in a cardiology clinic running stress tests for 4 years, the last 2 years in Alaska.

Do I have anything noteworthy to blog about? Not likely. But I get drawn into reading other peoples blogs and it doesn't matter how um... lame their posts are, I eat 'em up. Its almost like taking a walk through a neighborhood where they don't shut the blinds. Little glimpses into people's lives. One of my favorite things about Halloween (second to the candy coma I'd be in later) was being able to peek into stranger's homes. "Ahhh, so that's how other people live. Interesting!"