I went to see my patients in the nursing home.

I striked up a conversation with a feail, old man. We talked for a little, and he pointed to a framed picture of his wife.  It wasn't a photograph, it was a painting of his wife.  A really pretty lady too. He told me that they were married for 77 years, and she passed away. It was a rather awkard situation. In that brief silence we had, a lot was exhanged. I could feel him missing her.  Then he said, "I miss her." I was close to tears.  
She was lucky to have a man miss her so dearly. He was lucky to have fallen so deeply in love.

 

And I am spending this evening in the kitchen, getting an early start on Easter Sunday dinner.

Here is what's on the menu for tomorrow:

 

1) Strawberry pie
2) Strawberry cake
3) Deviled eggs
4) Roast chicken
5) Green bean toss
6) Asparagus / garlic stir fry
7) Cucumber/yogurt dip
8) Cornbread dressing (? or some dressing of some sort)
9) Roasted vegetables (potatoes, carrots)
10) MAYBE ... JUST MAYBE ... homemade dinner rolls from scratch

11) Some bruschetta-type creation :)

 

I AM EXCITED!!!

 

 

Yay!!!

Keith is finally home after a week of being away, working on his research at another university. Yay! I really missed him.

And almost a week has passed for me to be without a car. Yes, I have been stranded at home for almost a week. 

It really stinks because I can't even do stuff like going to the gym, or buying simple groceries like eggs. No, there are no buses, taxis, or subways to transport me to places. And no... there are no shops within walking distance.  My car is pretty much my only form of transportation. 

It has been rather nice being "stranded" at home. I got to rest a lot ... and I really needed that rest.  I got to give the house a almost-thorough spring cleaning. Stripping down the curtains for a wash, go through cabinets and emptying it out, throwing things out, and rearranging items. :)

I have to thank the friends who have offered to take me to the stores and have offered me help all these while :) It meant a lot to me, knowing that I am in your thoughts. Thanks!!

 

Have a good Easter weekend!

 

ask me to carry stuff back to Singapore on my next return, or mail things back to you.
It is not my intention to be rude, or unwilling to help, but I have plenty of such requests, and I cannot give in to every single one of them.
I have tried to refuse your requests politely, but to no avail. This is where I stand, I hope you will understand.

 

Firstly, I have always traveled light, and I intended to keep that way. I have no intentions to have my baggage checked in to reduce the possibility of losing my baggage (it has happened before and it isn't fun). 

Secondly, I have no desire to run around airports after airports lugging a heavy load (I have a lot of stopovers). You may say "It is just this;" "It is just that" "It is not heavy." But they do add up.
Thirdly, I do not want to be responsible for any damage in my care either.

And if that isn't enough, fourthly, on a legal stance, it is illegal to be carrying things that aren't yours.

 

I live in a place not like Singapore, where post offices are conveniently located, with rather convenient hours. I do have to drive to a post office in the city where I am at.  And I am not there for the entire day cos I am at the hospital doing internship.  And where I am working now, I don't see a post office in sight.  And I don't have the time to find out where the post office is because I only have 30 minutes lunch, which is usually spent trying to get materials ready for the next patient.  
I still have mothers' day and fathers' days cards from 2 years ago, birthday presents for mom and dad, Christmas presents for my folks that I have never mailed back. I am the girl who actually made the new year resolution "Mail cards and presents within one week after placing the address" and broke that resolution almost immediately.

 

I will be doing my internship until a day before my departure. I will have lots of paperwork to take care of to make sure all my hours are accounted for, and the last thing I want to worry about is forgetting to pack some stuff that aren't mine in the suitcase. 

 

I really do not mean to be rude or selfish, or unhelpful, and I hope you guys understand.

So please, don't ask me anymore.

Thank you!

 

I am through with most of school, and I have absolutely no idea what to do with my time. I have been enjoying my spring cleaning and there are definitely more to go :)

But, it feels a little 'blank' ... it is like, I am not being challenged.  I guess what makes the "unchallenged" worse is that my car is in the shop and I can't go to the hospital to work with clients, do assessments and therapy and learn.  If money weren't a big concern, I would have rented a car and go to my site ... but as is right now, not knowing how much the repairs are gonna cost, it is better to play safe with my money. :)

 

Keith has been gone for almost a week soon, it is difficult cooking for one. I have been eating tater tots and icecream. :P Bad ... but yummy!

I also baked some dinner rolls today ... it's an experiment, a little trial run, because that is what I wanted to make for Easter Sunday dinner. :)

Here is the plan ... or rather Keith's requests:

1) Roast chicken

2) Garlicky green beans

3) Sweet wheat dinner rolls

4) Broccoli and rice casserole

6) Corn bread dressing

5) Cheesecake (?) or fruit tart (?) or lemon bars (?) or key lime pie (?)

 

The weather has been crazy too in Ruston.

We had snow, then we had a tornado thingy, and today, we are under a tornado watch again. 

A pine tree had fallen down in the backyard. I have no idea what to do about that.

 

Oh boy.
Keeping my fingers crossed and hope that the car will be fixed soon!

 

 

 

So, written comprehensives are over and I am just twittering just a teensy weensy bit over orals. But I think it will be all right. :) 

I guess, I will feel the rush, the panic and all when it all gets nearer. Right now, I have a different set of problems to undertake.

So first, I got my car in to inspect what was wrong with the A/C. It is an old car and perhaps it needed some Freeon or something to make the air cool. It shouldn't be a big problem coz' the heater was blowing hot air, and the fan is still working. I didn't rely on Keith this time. I just called and went up to some place and explained the problem ... and they found the problem. Just some wire that got a little smushed or something and they fixed it - no extra cost other than the A/C inspection fee they were charging.  So I was pleased with that :) 
However, they found liquid in my oil ... and they are thinking it might be due to a head gasket leak. Yeap! That needs to be taken care off ASAP. 

Anyway, I am waiting for 8 a.m. to roll around, so I can start calling around town to get an estimated time frame they can get it done and I can be on the road again tomorrow! Keep your fingers crossed for me, say a little prayer .... :)

 

Have a easy, breezy Monday!!!

and one more day to go.

This is actually more mentally exhausting than I had initially thought so.  I am just pouring out my knowledge, scribbling away ... You can't even really 'fake it' because each step or treatment procedure that you are thinking about doing actually needs to be supported with your rationale. 

So here I am, after DAY 1, tired, still trembling a little. My body feels all tensed up after sitting in there for so long.

Can't really bring myself to go through any more notes. I actually need a drink to calm those nerves down!

 

Oh lord, have mercy on my soul!

 

 

 

I have a baby .... and its name is Rocky.

 

Rocky was found hiding next to our big trash bin in the car port. Keith said its nose was slightly bloody and appeared to be weak. So, we took him in ... like our other babies (Baby Jay, Baby Tibbar).

Baby Rocky was given the name because he already has a rocky start to his short life, and we hope he will get stronger and tougher like a rock and rock the world when he is old and strong enough to leave the house.

He has been a great joy ... and I feel like a mom. I feed him multiple times a day with a syringe. And he goes right back to sleep. and I will stroke him gently on his head and sing him a lullaby too! I need to find out what other foods is appropriate for him.

Here is a picture of Rocky -- all wrapped up, snuggled up, and asleep.

and keep treading.

I feel like a duckling learning to swim ... clumsy, incoordinated, and swamped with books and information that I am trying to overcome.

Tomorrow and Friday will be my BIG BIG DAYS! Excited about getting that suckers under my belt and over with, apprehensive because I feel like I ought to know EVERY NITTY GRITTY details. Yeap, I know to achieve that is probably not realistic. I know what I know. And I should definitely give myself credit for all the thngs I know.

I am ready to cross that 2 hurdles and graduate!

 

For those of you who are also crossing certain bumps -- in terms of love life, family life, school life, or even at work, Good Luck to y'all.

Keep your chin up and keep treading, or keep running, or keep jumping.

It will be "just all right" before you know it.

 

 

We are actually having snow in Louisiana, in MARCH!

We dont usually get snow around here but today, we did.

The backyard is covered in a blanket of white. It is a pretty sight.

Very pretty. 

 

 

 

I guess that title sums it up.

 

Stress over ... guess what ??? my written comprehensives!

Besides exams, I am also stressing about Singapore. Christina doesn't really like change -- especially changes in people or places she was familiar with. I don't know why this trip is more stressful than the other 2. Perhaps it is because I have been away for so long, and I am worried that things, people, and places have changed dramatically? 

Stressing over my future -- where I will be, what I will do, where home truly is..  I think I am approaching the end of a main street, and it is about time to either turn left or right.  While I like the street I am at right now and wouldn't really mind standing still and watch the people go by, there is an accelerating bus, coming my way, and if I don't move, I am gonna get run over. PLAT!

 

Stressing over having to drive 4.5 hours a day to and fro my internship at a different hospital.  That is going to put me behind for a lot of paperwork that I will need to get done prior to leaving this country and going home for a vacation. So the legal aliens are panicking about their paperwork, because lord forbid that if we dont have one form, we won't be able to get back to the U.S., while the illegal aliens are swimming across the Rio Grande, and trekking across dessert with pretty much no consequences.  My time will be taken up by driving. My money will be spent on gas. That leaves no time or money to shop for family.  Which might not be a bad thing afterall because I am trying to streamline my luggage.  There are a lot of things I want to bring home, especially for my mom and dad and brother, and Kris (the true people who have stood by the highs and lows through the years and have gone above and beyond through those difficult times) but I am going to have to cut everything down to bare necessities, and pack it all in a little carry-on and avoid all the hassle of checking my luggage in. I know I am gonna have to take my lap-top with me, and formal clothes, and casual clothes, and shoes, and my pillow! That is basically all the room I have. 

 

Broke cos I just spent about $130 registering for PRAXIS! That could be a darn good crawfish binge with some ice-cold beer.  Or a new espresso machine to replace the broken one in the kitchen right now. 

 

I am not really craving for sweets. All I want is a thick, creamy, guiltless orange creme smoothie!  Mmmmmmmmm .... :) I am craving to go for a run ... craving for sunshine, craving for sleep, and craving for warmer weather!!!

 

Have a good day, I have to go study ... A-G-A-I-N.

 

And I am tired.

 

but last night, I whipped out a batch yummy, crumbly peanut butter cookies. They are really yummlicious!

And today, while trying to organize my thoughts for a family-centered assessment for a client, my mind drifted off to BREAD and how aromatic the kitchen will smell if I baked a loaf or two of bread! And how happy that would make Keith! :)

So I did.

Whipped out my Kitchen aid power mixer, and fire away! Before long I have two balls of dough rising prettily like the morning sun!

Yeap. I didn't kill any yeast today. Yipppeeee!!!

So the bread is in the oven baking, think I have another 5 minutes to go before I can get it out! :)

Oh the bread ... it is clover honey whole wheat bread topped with ground flax seeds! Plenty of goodies for your health!

Hmmm.. smell so nice!:)

 

Later, alligator