Red Virtual Names

I feel like I have not blogged in a while, but, in my defense, my Mother seems to do all the dirty work for me, and I just get to enjoy! So check out her pics if you were wondering what I was up to. I will be posting mine after I get back from San Diego on my "Happy 30th Birthday Margo! Let's Paint the Town Red!" party trip! I assure you, you will all be virtually there.
My last virtual adventure was a virtual date. Yes, a bonefide date! Woo-hoo for me! Of course, it was virtual, which meant we were not in the same state, or timezone for that matter, but whatever. We went to the park, admired the stars, which happen to be the same for most time zones, and we chatted for a good 3 hours. Works for me! Gotta make the best of any situation, right?
Speaking of making the best of situations, I think I made my patients day by just writing my name. In his native language, that is! Arabic!
As I may have mentioned, I enjoy learning new languages, and at this hospital, there are a lot of Arabic speaking patients. Many more than I am used to. But imagine the shock and delight of my guy when I forged the language/culture gap and offered a little of his nativespeak. Very cool.
Now, let me try some nativespeak for you Canadians out there. I'll do it by signing off!
It's good to be me!
Looney Laura, eh?

How's that again?

I'm really having a hard time, when after I say "Thank you," my patients respond back with "Thaynk yeeeewwww!" I just wince every time! And I get a flashback to Sweet Home Alabama! Every bloody time!
And I am thoroughly amused with the GASTOINTESTINAL SURGEON, who, despite having at least 12 years of training and who knows how many years of practice, still shows up in his Wranglers and cowboy boots to sign his charts. You know he actually does surgery in them too. I've seen it before, and I had forgotten that, though blocked memories. Still gets me every time.
Amusing as all get out. It's good to be me cause I'm amused by it.

Fort Worth on my mind

I went up to Fort Worth for a day or two this week, and got to see Josh and Janitha. We had sushi, then headed over to Flying Saucer, a pub with over 200 international beers on tap. If you try them all, you get your name and date and any quote on your own saucer to go on the wall. Needless to say, I don't have my own saucer... I believe this was a German beer. Janitha is Swedish. How did both of them end up in Texas?
Next stop, Fort Worth RODEO!!!!


Bull riding, calf roping and flags. Yehaw!

This was Janitha's 1st time to a rodeo. She found it to be pretty interesting too. I remember my first time to a rodeo and freaking out when the guys jumped off their horses onto poor defenseless little baby cows and tied them up. Now it's just funny!

It's good to be me and to have great friends like Janitha to share great times with!

Happy New Years!!! OR.... Better Late than Never!

Ringing in 2008

And my awesome friend Crystal! It's fun to put on that little dress!

What fun!!!

Did I mention it was a little dress?!? And yes, she did have something on under that hot dress... White Grannie Panties!!!! Sorry Crystal, but you are proof that you can rock a dress even in your grannie panties! Go on with your bad self!

Test taking time

Ah, Orientation! I love being paid to essentially watch a commercial for the hospital I am working for. Of course, I have to prove my skills a little through "skills checkoffs" and "modules." One such test had me faking a cough to cover my laughter in the middle of the test in which one of the possible A,B,C, or D answers tickled my funny bone. I can't recall the specific question, but the possible answer of D got me going. The question pertained to TB. Answers:

D. TB disease is fatal to natives of San Diego.

What the???

Also listed amongst our policies and procedures:

-Food safety tips.

-Food safety tips in Turkish.

No other types of food safety tips. Just Turkish. Whew! I'm glad they had that covered. Last time I looked up food safety tips in Turkish, well, I just couldn't find any. Big sigh of relief!

It's good to be me and terribly amusing to be in orientation!

A little taste of Texas

Well, Yeee--Haw, y'all!!! I made it to Texas! (Actually I made it to Texas on Friday, but since EVERYTHING here is at a slower pace, I thought I'd join 'em and take my time blogging) Ah, friendly Texas. This sign was posted in my hotel room on my last night of travel. Gotta love it!
And what a lovely decor! Take special note of the curtains.... yup! They're towels! Brilliant! Just in case you didn't have enough already. And Grams S., another idea for you!!!

At least this hotel had a theme, and went with a "monochromatic" scheme. I loved the pictures of the horses, and when I clicked on the TV, Dolly Parton and her "twins" were singing at me. Welcome to Texas!

This is the bed where I laid my weary head. Why couldn't I get "bomp-chicka-dayrrnnn" out of my head?

This here's the sign posted out front of that there hotel ( to practice my Texan). Literally translated, it says, "American Owned. Yes to speak spanish a little." To practice my Texan, it means, Ah'll take yer money but I don't much fancy them there wetbacks, y'hear?

Now, the pool had been drained for the winter, seeing as how guests may find the 75 degrees out where this hotel was to be too cold for an afternoon swim. Just saving money, I guess. This was actually at the first hotel I had stayed at.

It's good to be me cause I see so much humor in Texas living!

Resolutions

Well, I counted it up, and I kept a grand total of 1 resolution from last year! 1! This is why I always have one that I will be sure to keep. So here goes my Resolutions for 2008:
1. Turn the Big 3-0!
2. Write to 1 friend a month. E-mail does not count.
3. Call each Grandparents at least once a month.
4. Save $100 per paycheck.
5. Write a book. Probably a novel, but we shall see...
6. Get under (190) pounds. Sheesh I hate that obligatory weight loss goal.)
7. Pay off Credit cards.
8. Visit the last of the 50 states. Kentucky.
9. Visit one other country, Mexico and Canada don't count since I've already been there.
10. Become a member of a church.
Happy New Year!!!! Belated just makes it more fun! It's good to be me and it's really going to be a great year.