do re mi fa so la ti do!!!

I have struggled with what I wanted to be when I was a "grown-up" for my entire life. I remember in high school saying that I was going to be an engineer, an architect, an actuary.....or pretty much anything that would make me rich. And then in college it was a personal trainer, an exercise scientist, a coach, a missionary, and finally a physician assistant. Unfortunately none of these things have anything to do with my real childhood dreams to be: 1. A mommy, or 2. A singer. Any of you who knew me as a child know that these were probably the only two "girly" characteristics I had growing up. All other attributes were strictly BOY. I wore boy clothes, played with boys, had a boy haircut....I even tried walking, talking and peeing like a boy (and I'm pretty sure my mom caught me doing the last one). But anyway! When I wasn't climbing trees and playing in the mud with frogs, I was probably playing house.....and I was definitely singing while doing all of the above.

So when I was talking to my parents the other night about my future, I made a bold remark against God......He definitely forgot to make me musically talented! Seriously, what was He thinking?! I mean, I almost never stop singing or listening to music.....and I have a whoooooole lot of emotions that could make for some killer lyrics. Therefore, I have decided to ignore my musical handicap and write a song. I have absolutely NO IDEA how to do such a thing. My mom said it's like writing a poem.....well I suck at writing poems. In addition to this obvious set-back, I don't play an instrument or have the right notes to pair with my doomed lyrics. But I'm determined! So wish me luck! And if you're one of my musical friends reading this, I may put you to work at making a tune! :)

Scrub a dub dub...

Scrub a dub dub

Three men in a tub

And who do you think they be?

The butcher, the baker, the candlestick maker

Scrub 'em up, one, two, three!

First, let's all agree with how weird and incredibly creepy this nursery rhyme is! Who in the world ever thought it was a good idea to put three men in a tub together and then share it with children?! No thanks!

Secondly, and more on the point of my intent, I realized tonight while "scrub a dub dubing" a resident that my favorite thing about working at the assisted living home is shower time. Now.....before you think I'm a creeper or have some sort of strange old people fetish, let me explain why I treasure bathing my residents.

Being responsible for the needs of twenty elderly people, plus cleaning, laundry, dishes, phone calls and whatever the heck else....is a hefty task. Everyday I wish I had more time to give to my residents. I wish I could get to know them better....their life history, their favorite memories, and even their favorite color for that matter....and I really wish I could do more to make their lives just a little bit better by simply being their friend. However, it's hard to spend even five minutes with anybody before I'm called to my next duty.....unless we're in the shower room. This is our sanctuary. This is where I can spend twenty minutes of quiet, uninterrupted quality time with my resident. This is where I really get to know them. And this is where I grow to love them.

(Maybe I'd rather not be washing their booties during this special bonding time....but I guess the pros outweigh the cons lol).

This made my morning....

notice the mileage....

I am easily amused :)

Man of the hour

Norah Jones is a phenominal artist. Her perpetually alluring voice and lyrics make women dream of nothing more than a glass of red wine and a late-afternoon nap. She is definitely my kind of girl. My favorite song on her latest album is called "Man of the Hour" - a love story.........about her dog. When I first heard the lyrics to this genious song I fell in love immediately. Take a minute and listen for yourself:

I was thinking about this song while I was lying in bed last night with my own man-of-the-hour, Jerry. Jerry is my cat who lives at my parents house, and he is my perfect man for many reasons. He's tall, dark and handsome (for a cat, I guess), he's laid back, he loves me, and his favorite thing in the whole world is cuddling. I love, love, love cuddling! And I love Jerry :)

 

Choctoberfest

In honor of the wonderful month of October, Mongolian BBQ has jumped on the German bandwagon with their new promotion, bd's Mongo Okto: Oktoberfest 2010! This is exciting because....along with serving Sam Adam's delicious Octoberfest (so good! once it hits your lips! it's so good) and excessive amounts of schweinbraten, sausage and sauerkraut......we have CHOCTOBER! YUM!

What is Choctober, you ask? Well it's only the most incredibly fudgy, chocolatey goodness ever! The one unfortunate thing about it is that it's only served as a mini. (If you haven't been to Mongo recently to know what a mini is, just imagine one of Applebee's "shooters" and you'll get the picture). Therefore the Choctober is just simply NOT big enough! Can I get a Choctober in a Big Brownie bowl, please? With some ice cream and extra fudge on top, too? YES PLEASE!

So. Instead of honoring October by drinking beer and eating sausage per the traditional Oktoberfest, I have decided to make my own celebration and I'm calling it Choctoberfest. Therefore, for all you chocoholics out there, we now have a justification for our addiction this month. I have already begun celebrating by eating excessive amounts of mini Butterfinger bars - I just so happened to stumble upon a bag that an unlucky customer dropped in the parking lot of Meijer (yeah, I picked it up....don't judge). This was after I fell for the buy-3-get-2 candy bars for free advertisement in the check-out isle.....

Maybe next month I'll come to terms with my problem and enter a rehab program....but as long as it's Choctoberfest, I'm going to live everyday to the chocolately fullest.

Why I need a pet

Isn't he CUTE?!?!?!?!?!

Over the past week, I have been obsessing about having a pet. When I'm not constantly browsing petfinder.com for the perfect pet, I am thinking about all the reasons why I NEED a pet. And not in the usual way that most people think it would be fun  and cute to have a companion....but I truly believe that having a pet would greatly benefit my personal well-being. Did you know that pets are beneficial to one's health???  Check it out!!!

Top 10 Reasons to have a pet:

1. Pets promote social interaction - YES PLEASE!
2. Pets encourage exercise - my life is seriously lacking in this area!
3. Pets are non-judgmental, and love you without condition and don't care what you look like or accomplished that day.
4. Pets encourage laughter and playfulness, reminding us not to take life too seriously.
5. Pets help with depression and loneliness.  Someone depressed will focus on themselves.  A pet gives that person an outward focus, a purpose and someone to care for.  In return they get back loads of love and affection.
“There is no psychiatrist in the world like a puppy licking your face.” 
~ Ben Williams
6. Children growing up with pets develop more empathy - okay so this one doesn't apply right now.....but SOMEDAY  it will :)
7. Mental stimulation. Animals encourage social interaction which triggers memories and encourages communication.
8. Reduced blood pressure.  Studies have found that having a pet actually reduces blood pressure and triglycerides (Working with the elderly everyday makes one aware of such things)!
9. Physical touch - MY LOVE LANGUAGE!
10. Relaxation!

Meaningless

One of my residents passed away yesterday. It was the second death in the two months since I have been working there. What has surprised me most about their deaths is how quickly the world adjusts to their absence. Within only a few hours, the resident is bathed, dressed, packed away and taken to the funeral home, while life at the assisted living home continues as if nothing at all ever happened. Nobody even seems to notice. 

.

The following passage from Ecclesiastes 1: 1-11 speaks the troubles of my heart.....

 The words of the Teacher, son of David, king in Jerusalem:

  "Meaningless! Meaningless!" 

       says the Teacher. 

       "Utterly meaningless! 

       Everything is meaningless."

  What does man gain from all his labor 

       at which he toils under the sun?

 Generations come and generations go, 

       but the earth remains forever.

 The sun rises and the sun sets, 

       and hurries back to where it rises.

 The wind blows to the south 

       and turns to the north; 

       round and round it goes, 

       ever returning on its course.

 All streams flow into the sea, 

       yet the sea is never full. 

       To the place the streams come from, 

       there they return again.

 All things are wearisome, 

       more than one can say. 

       The eye never has enough of seeing, 

       nor the ear its fill of hearing.

 What has been will be again, 

       what has been done will be done again; 

       there is nothing new under the sun.

 Is there anything of which one can say, 

       "Look! This is something new"? 

       It was here already, long ago; 

       it was here before our time.

 There is no remembrance of men of old, 

       and even those who are yet to come 

       will not be remembered 

       by those who follow.