The Meeting...

Things at work were tense.

The faces on the nurses were not happy, and this was pre-meeting:

Then the meeting happened.

My approval is seen below:

They have cut our hours.

My hours were left alone.

My shift is 5:00 AM to 1:30 PM starting 2/2/09.

The next shift is 2:30 PM to 8:30 PM.

The NOC shift is 10:30 PM to 4:00 AM.

One of my co-workers, the upset male seen above, will lose his insurance.  He is only scheduled for 24 hours a week, and at my job you need 28 hours a week to keep your insurance.

After the meeting today I called him and offered him 4 hours a week of mine.  I cannot just sit by and let my co-worker and friend lose his benefits.  Especially because he has a wife and two small children.  I would want someone to do that for me.

In addition to cutting our hours, the man in charge is changing our med system to a system where the pharmacist has pre-pulled all of our meds and placed them in a med-redi-on-time container.

We tried this for a month at our facility already and it was a nightmare.

The pharmacy was rude and the errors were many.

I don't know why he is changing something that is not broken.

I NEED A NEW JOB!!!!!!!

Anyway, all other things are going okay.

I really do love what I do.  I really don't understand why a man who is my boss, and who has never been a nurse, refuses to listen to his employees.

Oh the things I could say about him, but I won't because I am a lady!

Love you guys!

More Crazy Changes at Work!

Well there is a mandatory nurses meeting on Thursday at my work.

It is only for the nurses, which means more cuts, and more changes.

I am pretty sure I know what they are gonna do, which basically will put me back to being at work by 5:00 AM.

I really shouldn't complain too much because I will still be getting my 37 to 40 hours a week, but gettin' up at 4:00 AM is bit@*!

I dunno how they are gonna get away with it.

We will have absolutely no overlap with nurses, which means no more reporting (verbally) on how my peeps are doing!

I wish more people would move into my work.

I know that I do a great job, as do pretty much all of my co-workers.

A lot of people have come to tour the building, and they tend to get rubbed the wrong way by the tour giver, and usually that is my boss.

I shouldn't rag on him really at all.

In his mind he is doing a great job, and he really probably is, I don't see all of the angles that he does.  I think a lot of people just can't put their finger on why they may not like him so much.

Did I only say that I do a great job?  I meant to say that I am a fantastic nurse and people should flock from all around the world to be in my care!

Hmmm, well, I guess I will keep all of you updated.

Sorry for the boring blah-blah no picture post!

Next post will have pictures, I promise!

New Baby Niece!

Here she is!!

My cute lil' new niece.

I can't wait to go up and meet her.

The email that I received said that mom and baby are doing wonderful!

She was born January 23rd at 2:10 PM and weighed 8.0 lbs and was 20 inches long!

So sweet!

She already looks like my sister.

Congratulations to my sister and her sweet little family!

Congratulations To Us!

Hoorray! 

So my sister Raw Chicken had a baby today!  I bet she is gorgeous, and for the first time ever I will say a real name on my blog.  Her parents have named her Aubrey Cristine.  I think I spelled it right.

I haven't talked to Raw Chicken yet, but I am sure I will within the next few days.  Her and her family are gonna be a little bit busy, so I will talk with her when they are ready.

I am so happy for them.  I think that Aubrey, whom we'll now call Baby, is their last child.

At any rate, I have been working on my first afghan, as it is pictured below.  I am making it for Raw Chicken.  She is unaware of this and I was just gonna send it when it was done, but, I needed to have a picture of something to post that was influenced by Baby.

The colors are pale yellow, pink and white.  Because I am so new to crocheting, I picked a very basic pattern to make this afghan with.  I got bored and added a new stitch and this allowed me to weave in the other colors.  It is still a work in progress, and I am sure Raw Chicken will see this blog before she gets the blanket.

Surprise!

I am sure all of the Astin's are very happy tonight as they have a very new addition.

I know I am happy.

On another note, B is sick.

He has a head cold.  As a result he has been snoring way too much at night.  He will fall asleep before me and I will be almost asleep when he will begin to snore and snore. 

I will wiggle or shake the bed to get him to stop, and sometimes this works, most of the time it doesn't.

When the wiggle fails, I then wake him and say "B you are snoring can you switch positions?"

No, I am not heartless, this is actually the method that he prefers.  He doesn't like the wiggle.

So today I broke down and I bought him these:

B was looking at the package and asked "Do you realize you bought large?"

"Yes", I replied.

He then reads the back of the box:

"Small/med fit 75% of all noses, size large fits larger noses."

"Well, you have a big nose," I replied.

We laughed at that description.

I tried to take a picture of that description on the box, but our camera couldn't focus on the words.

I also bought him this:

This is about a buck a pill.

B took a couple pills about two hours ago and I don't think that they are working right.  He is still very congested.  Poor baby boy.

At work these days things are kind of scary.

There is a chance that they will have to shut my building down due to lack of people living there.  I don't want to lose my job, but I understand if it gets shut down.

Not too much else to blog about.

I will post a picture of the afghan once it is done.  I am quite proud of it thus far.

Though I must mention that this new hobby of mine sure makes me feel like I am an 'oldy' (old lady).

Brother Taylor

no words necessary.

The Outcome

So here it is, my first lasagna attempt:

Notice, how even for a novice, it looks completely and perfectly cooked.

Even the dinner salad looks absolutely perfecto!

And with our table set to perfection, we were ready to get down and dig in!

Take note on how my six noodle lasagna does not soup up.

I really must have known what I was doing.

Did I say that I messed up before?

I meant to say that I have created a new lasagna sensation that will sweep the nation!

B's half eaten plate!

He ate it and he loved it.

Hungry puppy (without Shumway) wishing for a piece of six noodle delight!

One empty plate!

Two empty plates!

Can't be wrong!

So this was a fun cooking adventure for me.

B actually called and said he would be home earlier than I had anticipated, but well after the six noodle wonder was in the oven baking.

I advised him to perhaps bring home a rotisserie chicken, just in case the six noodle fabulous was a flop.

He ignored my request.

Good thing, because it was good.

I did not pre-cook the noodles, because I knew that I would have over cooked them, that method is for real cooks!

So all was a success.

Yeah!!!

Uh-Oh, I Think I Messed Up!!!

Making lasagna tonight.

(Trying to surprise B with a candle lit dinner).

Got the pan pammed.

Got all ingredients mixed.

Got sauce made.

Only used 6 noodles.

Oops!

Hope it is good.

It is in the oven now.

Will probably have lasagna-like goo!

Here's to next time!

What On Earth Are Those?!?

As you look at the image below, and BEFORE you scroll down to see the answer, I want you all to ponder about what these two fantastically crocheted items may be.

Are they Blankets gone wrong?

Perhaps.

Are they the beginnings of a sweater?

Maybe.

Are they leggings with a handle?

Just might be.

Could they be just the arms of a sweater?

You may be getting warmer.

Hmmm.

What the heck are they?

I just dunno.

OH WAIT!!! YES I DO!!!

They are doggie warmers!!!

Above we have Gordon modeling the sweater that I have decided to call Shumway.

Would you or your doggie like a Shumway?

Sorry, can't be replicated.

One of a kind.

Many errors and many perfections, that is why these little gems are so unique.

I can never do the same design twice!

Above we have Arnold.  He is modeling the sweater that I have titled Gershwin.

Take note of the belly strap.

Yes, both sweaters come with a belly strap.

These features keep the sweater from sliding around all over you cute pup.

Above here, you see Gordon, still in his sweater, with a look to his face that I can read:

"What the hell?"