Bahhhhhhh. Bahhhhhhh.

So here I was Tuesday night, sort of finished early and ran home to watch the election results pour in. I called my east side colleague to be sure she was done too so we could both enjoy the evening. My phone didn't ring once after that. I hurried and finished my paperwork then listened to the news people spin their nonsense and push buttons on maps. Periodically, we peeked in on Fox News to watch the crybabies and see if we could catch a little drama. I didn't get a single call at night. Not one. Not even my alarm rang on my phone to remind me to call the time clock. Uh-oh.

Oh Jesus. Oh no. My cell phone was off. All night! Of course I didn't get any calls. Duh.My heart was in my throat thinking that I'd missed calls all night long. I called the answering service and sure enough, I missed 2 of them from the same person. It hadn't been a really big deal, more of a medication question so I was relieved. After I called the caregiver and apologized 90 times, I emailed my boss and explained, rather sheepishly, what I'd done. I was embarrassed. Also, if I hadn't disclosed this, the answering service would have reported it and then, I'd have been called on the carpet to splain myself. Here I am making money to sit on my arse and watch election results when I should be answering calls from dying patients and their caregivers. Oh, I'm such a schmuck!

Wednesday night, you can imagine how paranoid I was that I'd subconsciously do this again. I won't be sheepish or a schmuck if that happens again, I'll be an ass____! I got home from my rounds around 10:15 without incident. I checked my phone for 100th time before I sat down to chart. The phone rang, I answered and hung up. It shut off. The damn phone shut itself off when I closed the cover on it. I can't tell you how relieved I am to know I didn't do it to myself. I feel ever so slightly vindicated. I'm also annoyed because if I need a new phone, that means I'll have to program all those phone numbers into it one at a time. Again.

Since I'm in such a good mood having discovered this error wasn't really my fault, I'm going to share another family secret recipe. Have at it. It's my brothers' favorite cake which gets baked for their birthdays. I like it for breakfast even more. I need to bake this for my missionary friend Sister Jeanne when she comes to town next month. I don't know what she'll like more, money to buy chickens for that work she does in Nicaragua or this cake. Probably both.

Henri's Chocolate Chip Cake

1 cup chopped (pitted) dates
1 Tablespoon baking soda
1 cup hot water
1 cup white sugar
1 Tablespoon cocoa powder
1/2 cup soft butter
1 tablespoon vanilla
1/2 cup shortening
2 eggs
1 3/4 cups all purpose flour (you can use cake flour)
1 cup chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped walnuts


Topping: 1/4 cup flour, 1/4 cup sugar, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, and 2 tablespoons cold butter. Blend with fork or pastry blender until mixture is pea like.

Add soda to dates and pour hot water over this and set aside. Cream butter, shortening and sugar and cocoa. Add vanilla and eggs. Mix well. Alternate blending in water and date mixture with flour. Stir in 1/2 cup of chocolate chips. Place in a 9 inch by 13 inch greased and floured cake pan. Sprinkle remaining chocolate chips and walnuts on top. Make the topping and sprinkle on top. Bake at 350 degrees for around 40 minutes.

It Takes a Village

"If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.

It's the answer told by lines that stretched around schools and churches in numbers this nation has never seen, by people who waited three hours and four hours, many for the first time in their lives, because they believed that this time must be different, that their voices could be that difference.

It's the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled. Americans who sent a message to the world that we have never been just a collection of individuals or a collection of red states and blue states.

We are, and always will be, the United States of America." Barack Obama

I'll embrace those words with all my heart.  It did take a village and a mix of all Americans to bring about this change.  I believe a change has been in the wind for a while now.  For those who fear, not all change is bad.  Be hopeful.

I will end this by saying I plan to ixnay the oatinglay shortly.  I can't begin to tell you the grief my big brother has given me for about 2 years straight now.  I'm entitled to a little basking as I find myself on the side of a winner.  Finally!  Delete has been my favorite key to push when most of the political junk he sent found its way to my mailbox.  Me thinks he takes his politics as seriously as he takes his U of M football.  It's not my brother's year as his beloved wolverines have played more like skunks.  They stink.  So, this song is for him.  Misery just loves company and in the absence of that, a good country song just may do:

(just sos ya know, i still love, love, love leon russell-even when he's singing sad country songs)

Pins and Needles

What do you do while waiting? Eat, of course! Grilled cheddar cheese on Italian bread and tomato soup straight from the good ol' American Campbell's soup can. Next up, a cup of Earl Grey and maybe the whole box of Walker Shortbread Cookies. I can hardly stand this!

This was me earlier when I went to the polling site:

Notice, I was only accosted by a father and daughter team trying to get me to vote no on stem cell research. She doesn't look too threatening here now, does she? I remained strong though and while not quite plowing over this young lady, neither did I take her red rope of bribery. I didn't have the heart to tell her my vote didn't go her way. C'est la vie! In a few more years, she can mosey on up to the polling booth and cancel my vote out. Until then, I'm voting as fast as I can. When I was done, I took that travel mug up to Starbucks for my free cup of joe.

The hat? Not my style. The new owner? The Divine Ms. S. She looks fabulous in this beanie style hat. I'll stick to berets. She needs to send us a picture so we can compare and contrast. Well, here's hoping my pager stays silent tonight. With luck, everyone's too interested in outcomes tonight to bother with the hospice nurse. Just in case, I'm going to TIVO Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert. I could use a good laugh right about now.

Pixies and Pixels

Today is the day where we will find out who will be gloating and who amongst us will be crying in our oatmeal as we watch the morning news tomorrow. To take your mind off your candidate of choice, I'd like to take you for a stroll through the insane asylum. I do this as a public service so you know that no matter how bad things are, they can always be worse.

WANTED:

Stinkerbell McBookeater 

for the crime of almost starting WWIII

Years and years ago, there was a beautiful book out that had large pictures of Disney characters. Within each picture, were hundreds of smaller photographs or pictures (pixels) of the movie the character starred in. For instance, you could look at a large picture of Tinkerbell and see within the picture, scenes from the movie Peter Pan. Hundreds of them. This was one of Rachel's favorite books. She would stare at each photo for hours, devouring the hidden scenes within them. When I found this book at an area Borders Express, I bought every single copy. A half dozen of them. Then I scoured the area's Borders stores for more. Her caregivers did the same thing.  All told, I think we found about ten copies which we hid and then brought out on special occasions.

Don't be mislead by that innocent photo at the top, the truth is, our little pixie Rachel isn't very nice to books. When I say she would devour the books, I mean that figuratively and literally. She will chew on a book and its binding until there is no evidence it ever existed. Medically, this eating disorder is called pica. She has it. When she was just a wee thing, she'd put anything inedible in her mouth and this isn't uncommon with youngsters. It's why we childproof a house. I have fond memories of calling her name one afternoon when she was out in our garden. When she turned around to look at me, her mouth was stuffed with marigolds. I'd give my kingdom for a photograph of that memory.

The evidence that perhaps, Stinkerbell hates Peter Pan

She will eat the last scrap of evidence that food ever existed too. The inedible portions, like a corn cob, the pit of a peach or the peel of a banana. I can't tell you how many times I had to call poison control in respect to consumption of bizarre things like ashes in the fireplace.  Once, she ate a poisonous plant on school grounds (don't ask) and had to go by ambulance to an ER where she stubbornly refused to drink the activated charcoal.  For 4 hours, she was kept on a heart monitor to be sure she hadn't suffered cardiac toxicity from her brush with the plant.  Now if she would eat ashes, don't you think she'd drink the charcoal?  Nope.  She'd have nothing to do with it!  This girl has kept me hopping for a solid 18 years. Our home was childproofed in the most bizarre ways.   We went through duct tape like nobody's business.  We had a rope to tie the fireplace doors together and locks on every room in the house. We'd never entertain the idea of a fire unless she was already sound asleep and we had no plans to turn our backs on the fire.

Rachel also likes the glittery things in life. In that, she's no different than most girls. However, one can only take the gold bracelet back to the jeweler so many times before the jeweler becomes suspicious about how the links to the bracelet just fell apart. I think the tooth impressions set in the gold tipped him off. I know that my husband's original wedding ring ultimately got flushed. There is no other explanation for why it went missing. I draw the line at sifting through poop when it comes to finding missing items.

Sadly, that Disney pixel book is no longer in print. It was her favorite-even more than all the Dr. Seuss books. Those Seuss books almost started World War III. We were at my mother in law's house when disaster struck and Rachel had herself a Seuss feast. Those books didn't belong to her though; they were my sister in laws and she about died when she saw what her niece had done to her childhood memories. I got an earful the day this tragedy came to light. I was so used to our daughter's disorder that I sort of took the whole episode in stride and tried to find humor in it.  Like, maybe she was hungry and those green eggs and ham were irresistible.  I had no idea how this event would upset someone not used to the daily consumption of books and I was taken aback by how stricken my sister in law was.  Years later, having lost two beautiful gold bracelets to this disorder, I sort of get why she was so upset.  To say the least, it can be stressful living with a child like Stinkerbell but luckily, Dr. Seuss books can be replaced. So can wedding rings and bracelets. I miss that out of print Disney pixel book though and wish I could find some to replace those that have given their all to bring a girl pleasure.

Word of the Day

Marquise Gauntlets from Elann

gauntlet

noun
Etymology:
Middle English, from Middle French gantelet, diminutive of gant glove, from Old French, of Germanic origin; akin to Middle Dutch want glove
Date:
15th century

1 : a glove worn with medieval armor to protect the hand
2 : any of various protective gloves used especially in industry
3 : an open challenge (as to combat) —used in phrases like throw down the gauntlet
4 : a dress glove extending above the wrist

Definition is from Merriam-Webster On Line

Now, you may have been slightly led to believe this is a post about knitting. Nope. It's a post about definition number 3 as I prepare myself to do my civic duty this week. There is one thing I totally despise and that's the running of the gauntlet of last second politicians hoping to secure my vote as I walk into the polling booth. If it's anything like in the past, there will be people standing outside the elementary school handing out emery boards, fliers, brochures, candies, pretzels and lip service. This will all be in an attempt to be sure their names are the last I recall as I enter to place my ballot. It's as though they believe I'll forget the name of the candidates I'd like to see win and only recall those who've tried to entice me at the last minute. I always keep my head down and plow right through these campaigners-unless they're handing out red licorice. I can't resist the red licorice.  Oh the shame of it!  Selling my vote for a rope of red candy.

Raindrops on Roses

Rainfall at Cricket's Crossing April 2008 (click on the picture to see the fat raindrops and petals falling)

I signed up to do a blogpost per day during the month of November (check the little icon in the corner). It was Mrs. G who posed the question about feeling epic and joining NaBloPoMo. While I'm not feeling truly epic, it shouldn't be too difficult to come up with a post a day. I'm not often at a loss for words. In fact, I talk and argue points with people all the time. I should have been a lawyer. Instead, I've used my gift for gab to be a hospice nurse. If I'd shut up at work, I'm quite certain I wouldn't be dealing with epic starts of care. Everyone else tells me they can do one in 2 hours. Ha. It takes me 3 and sometimes 4 hours to do a start. Somehow, I believe one shouldn't rush through the start of anything. I believe my patients and their loved ones deserve at least an unhurried beginning at what will be the ultimate of endings.

While driving all over the city yesterday, I started thinking about the things I really like. I don't know why I was thinking this would make a good blogpost. I should have written some of these things down because I can't remember half of them now. I was going to present it as a product review and a peek into the things in life that please me. So, here are a few of the items in the plus column of my life:

Henri Bendel Fig Candle: You can buy this at Bath and Body Works for $26.00. It's my favorite candle with a fresh and soothing scent. It's pricey but worth the amount I paid. As long as I don't forget I lit it and let the thing burn for hours at a time, it'll last quite awhile. Once in a blue moon, you can find these on Ebay dirt cheap. However, these may be candles that "fell" off the back of the truck. Just saying.

Starbucks' Hot Chocolate: Their new caramel and salt hot chocolate drink is amazing. I've really got to stay away from this place with their overpriced and fattening drinks. This drink was heavenly. The chocolate is a bit bitter which offsets the sweet caramel and whipped cream. The salt makes my taste buds dance.

Gas Prices: Gas prices of late make me happy. I filled my tank for less than $30 last night. I could have done even better but the cheapest spot to fill was one in the worst neighborhood. This boon, while I'm sure temporary, makes my mileage reimbursement go a lot further than it did last month. Whew. Maybe I can afford that oil change and tire rotation now.

Falling Behind: I treasure the weekend where I get my hour of sleep back. Lord knows I'm enough of an insomniac-we don't need to be stealing hours away. Speaking of sleep...

...I heart my bed: Yes, my Tempur-Pedic bed has changed my life. I actually sleep through the night without interruption. Prior to buying this bed, I awakened nightly and often more than once, with back spasms. I'd have to stretch to be able to go back to sleep. I'm able to stay awake during the day now since I get quality sleep at night again. This bed was worth the shocking price.

My son and his dog Dukealicious, or more affectionately, my beastie boys.

Dukealicious: This dog continues to entertain me even when he chews through leather leashes. It's been almost 9 years since this sweet dog climbed into the lap of my son and cemented himself in our hearts. He was one of 7 or 8 pups we had to select from. The smart one. He appeared as a leggy little thing-as though he were a hotdog on stilts. I still remember his puppy breath. My mother in law used to rock him in a chair when he was just a wee thing. She wanted to be certain they'd be good friends. When she was sick and in the hospital, I got her a little plaque that said "home is where the dog is." It is indeed. Every single day, this dog uses his powerful snout to open the sliding patio doors whenever he wants in or out. He hasn't learned to close them but since the beginning, this dog has always gotten what he wants: control. I think it's the nature of the dobie beast.

Music: I love almost all music. As I exited my car to do a start of care last night, I was greeted with Mexican music blasting from the house across the street from my patient's home. It made me smile. I asked my patient's son about this and he said they always turn up the volume; it wasn't just a Friday thing. I don't know why that made me happy, but it did. To me, that's zest for life at it's best. This neighborhood was a true melting pot. It was in the heart of Detroit's Mexican Town but had all kinds of residents living there. Everyone was outdoors and sitting on their porches enjoying Halloween trick or treaters and the warm evening. I think they were enjoying the music too. I wonder what kind of treats the music house passed out.

Humor: If you don't have a sense of humor, I believe you're losing out on what makes a human really special. I love to laugh. I like people who are humorous and appreciate this gift as a way to deal with sticky situations. Some poor souls don't have a sense of humor at all. Last night, I pronounced a death in a home setting. The family was laughing and telling stories of the last time they'd dealt with the funeral home. The person who retrieved mom years ago had asked the family to help him push her to his vehicle because he was by himself and couldn't do it alone. As they were assisting this guy, they remembered their mother's last wish was to leave the house foot first. They made the funeral home fellow turn her around so her feet exited the door first. They knew their mom had meant on her feet but still tried to honor her request in a quirky way. Years later, on the somber occasion of their dad's death, they were finding humor in the situation. They planned to make certain he left foot first too.

Yarn: I love good yarns. Both the stringy stuff and good stories. A good yarn is always entertaining. As I write this, I'm waiting for Jimmy Beans Wool to post this month's limited edition Lorna's Laces yarn. While trying to remain loyal to my beloved Lorna's Laces, I found limited edition Schaefer Yarn's Sock the Vote. Four limited edition yarns are available and I bought the Michelle colorway. It's incredibly bright and beautiful and yes, it makes me happy. I thought Sarah was drab and boring in a funereal way with repetitive colors. Cindy was OK but a bit overdone as though working hard to look too youthful. Hillary was way too green-like all the shades of envy. If you want yours, better hurry. Schaefer will stop dying the yarns on Tuesday and then that's it. If you're a sock yarnaholic like me, go ahead, make yourself happy. Now, either Jimmy's didn't sell Sarah, or they sold out. Either way, you can't get Sarah from Jimmy Beans. I'm hoping the country doesn't get her on Tuesday. Just saying.

These were a few of my favorite things. I don't really think often enough about the raindrops on roses. Maybe I should. Maybe we all should. So tell me, what are some of the things that bring you joy?

Schaefer Yarn's Michelle photo from Jimmy Beans Wool. All other photos property of Rudee.

Cleaning House

Here is a picture of my shiny and fresh smelling Dukealicious. He isn't too happy with any of us today because we loaded him up with Tramadol and took him to the Salon de Beastie for a little freshening up. He was smelling more of goat than dog. He despises getting a bath which is why I don't do it myself. It's too much of a battle. The last two times he's been dragged into the place, he's chewed through his leash. Next time, he goes with a heavy rope. As I write this, he is passed out on the sofa. What a stoner.

I'm falling way behind on the knitting front. I think it's because I can't stop starting new things. From this point forward, I'll start nothing new until I finish up what needs finishing. Yeah right. Unfortunately, I can't seem to stop buying yarn either. I'm like a squirrel trying to pack the yarn away for a rainy day. Well, it can start raining any day now and I won't run out of yarn until the 12th of Never.

Here is the election day hat. I've not worked on it for a couple of days because frankly, it was moving along too fast and I wanted to savor it. I'm ready to do the shaping along the top of the hat-another 15 rows and it's done. It is so soft and pretty. I can't wait to go out and vote in this.

OK, here is clapotis which I've been working on feverishly. I thought I'd like to take it to Virginia with me next weekend. It's a misshapen blob of yarn right now but have faith! When I bind it off and give it a bath, I'll block it and this piece will have a different shape. The yarn has been wonderful to work with and I know I have enough to knit a sweater from this stuff.

Speaking of sweaters, I bought the yarn for this one last January. I've knit the sweater. I've washed and blocked it. I did that in June. It is still sleeveless, but look! The yarn, the needles and the pattern have moved closer together. Does that mean a complete little wrap is in my future? Do you think I can finish Clapotis, the sweater and the hat all in the same week? I'm not so sure, but I'll be darned if I cast on for another thing before I do.

Let's not talk about the green sweater for my daughter-even though I've started the hem. In addition, do not mention the afghan I started for her almost 2 years ago and got bored with, or the 2 different pairs of socks I've got going (and really, these UFOs are only the tip of the iceberg). Sunday, I'm cleaning out the yarn bins and deciding which objects are going to be finished and which ones I'll frog and make into something different. Clearly, I have an OCD some project loyalty issues here...