change of plans

Perhaps I should change my halloween costume from angel to pirate, I'm sitting here on my bed typing this blog with a patch over my left eye. Yep, I'm the one-eyed blogger at this time. Let me explain a little bit better.

Tuesday, as I was running a bunch of errands I noticed my left eye was starting to hurt a little bit. Nothing too extreme, but enough to bother me. Then as the night progressed, the pain got worse. I woke up Wednesday morning at about 730 am and my eye really hurt badly. So, I took a look in the mirror and thought I had pink eye. My left eye was swollen and sore, so I called work and had to call off for Wednesday night because I thought I had pink eye. I called one of the ER docs and asked him to call in a prescription for pink eye. I went to Walgreens, picked up the script and started taking the drops. But the pain was still there, and my vision was a bit blurry, So much so that I was unable to drive!!! I go to bed, wake up at 8ish on Thursday morning, only to find out that my eye looks worse!!! HOw is this possible? I've been taking the drops since last night, how can it be worse. I also noticed that my eye wasn't all crusted shut like you usually see with pink eye, and the inside of my eye wasnt' really pink either. It was just the outside of my eye that looked awful. Never fear, I called the MD and got in to see him today. Five hours later and CT scan, he says it Ocular cellulitis. I guess I had a sty that went a little crazy and caused cellulitis around my left eye. He sent me for a CT to make sure that I didn't have an abcess in my sinus cavity...if I had, I wouldn't be writing this right now, I'd have been admitted in the hospital. So, I'm home now with high dose antibiotics, and a patch over my eye so that I can focus on my reading or the tv. I'm off work until this is all cleared up! The doctor has a sense of humor and informed me that "you Karner's are keeping me in business this year"

I don't know if I'll be able to attend my halloween party this weekend....perhaps I should put a hunch in my back and go as Quasimoto!!!!

daytime population

I worked the entire weekend, so I had yesteredeay and today off. Yesterday, I had grand plans to stay awake most of the day and go to sleep early in the evening. I did some homework and checked my email. Then Dawniepie came over to visit and we went through some of the mess that is in the basement. But...that discovery lead to finding all my yearbooks, let me tell you that was an interesting trip down memory lane!!! Then I decided to relax, take a little nap because I was very sleepy. I lied down at 2pm and woke up a couple hours later...MIDNIGHT!!! Oh no! Now I'm up for the night! Great!! I was finally able to go back to sleep around 4.

I got up today at 7am. I did some research on my social policy project for a couple hours. Then I headed out into the land of the living. I went shopping. I managed to get my sister's birthday gift. A new bag for my laptop. Dawn's bday gift from my mom. And, I found my halloween costume!!! I went to Party City and they have some fabulous costumes and you're allowed to try them all on, but...they don't have a mirror. What kind of insanity is that? It's in interesting procedure. They have a wall of pictures, all with numbers on assigned to them. You have to find a sales rep and tell them what number costume you want and the size involved. So, I pick out like five different costumes, but I figured I'll only try on two at a time. I went for the Goldilocks costume, it seemed to fit ok, but I couldn't see what I looked like without a mirror. Then I looked at the price tag. $60 for just a dress...no thanks. I settled on costume #2, and angel. It was comfy in the store and in the right price range, so...we have a winner.

Whats your halloween costume?

Weekend Blues

So, I worked last night and was informed that one of my favorite Charge nurses is leaving us. She has had enough with our directors and their BS and has decided to take leave of SAMC. She is going back to Victory Hospital in Waukegan...take care Tracy, we'll miss you and your non-Nazi Charge RN ways!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Today I went to church at my old church. St. John the Baptist in Johnsburg, IL. Now, except for my girlfriends wedding, last October, I haven't been to mass at that church in quite sometime. But I was informed by both my mother and sister that the new priest was wonderful. So, I sat through 9am mass conducted by Father Watt this morning. During the processional, Dawn leaned over and informed me that he looks like Ben Franklin in the movie version of 1776, and indeed he does!!! Also, Father Watt likes to sing. So now I'm in mass over tired and a little warm and I have my mother saying "the turkey is a noble bird" and Dawn acting like she's holding a cane and doing the the little Ben Franklin dance from above such movie! Needless to say, I was very, very sleepy and started an uncontrollable fit of giggling!!!! I felt like a little kid again! Then I got the look from Rose, she was giving me the 'angry eyes' What did she expect? I'm flanked by two of you making me think of one of my favorite movies ever and picturing the singing priest signing the declaration of independence....hello? I know, I know I should be able to better behave myself while in church.

But, overall the church thing went well, I did like the priest and perhaps I'll continue to visit that chuch. And then we came home and Ralph made us all French toast for breakfast. Dawnie fixed my hair and then I was off to bed....snoozeville for the vampire.

I missed a first birthday party...sorry Kate and Maggie, I was napping!

Now it's time to dive back into the wonderful world of Psych. Big test number three this week.

Pass the word

Not much to post today...but here is some interesting info....


Here is a book, written by my cousin's friend, Alison Strobel Morrow.It's called Violette Between, and can be purchased at

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1578567947Read the first chapter of the book online!http://www.americanfamilysuperstore.net/e/firstchapter.asp?mode=view&index=470

You can also read Alison's blog here. (http://blog.alisonstrobel.com)


Here's a quick synopsis:Violette is the quintessential artist: passionate, emotional and full of life. After suffering a great loss, she finds herself enamored with a new relationship and asking if it is truly time to move on. Christian lost his wife years ago and understands Violette's pain firsthand. He offers her a chance to love once more, and hopes to build a future with the spirited artist. But just as Violette and Christian begin to feel something unexpected, tragedy strikes again. Violette retreats into her past -- and she finds that she may not want to come back. This is a captivating novel that asks what is more precious: the memories of one who is gone... or the memories waiting to be made with someone new?Hope you enjoy it!

It looks quite interesting and I plan to read it. So, take a look and pass the word!!!!!!!!!

The Ultimate Creamer

My co-workers and I are on a hunt to find the Ultimate Coffee Creamer. I understand this might seem a silly quest to some people, but for those of us who do drink coffee, a lot of it, and can't stand it black. Flaver is the craze. There are a wide variety of flavors out there with which to tease your palate. Here are some of them and our thoughts on each. Please feel free to add your vote to the mix

French Vanillla, Vanilla Chai Spice, Cinnamin Vanilla, Southern Butter Pecan, Original, Carmel Vanilla, Coconut Creme, Creme Bruele
;
Then there are the seasonals....Peppermint Mocha, Eggnog,

I'm sure I'm missing some, but whatever....

Our favorite seems to rank towards French Vanilla, Carmel Vanilla, Peppermint Mocha, and Vanilla Chai Spice.

French Vanilla is a standard stanby...it's always good, can you ever get sick of it??

The Chai one you can only take in small doses.

The Cinnamin Vanilla is good, but just not that good.

Peppermint Mocha is a wonderful flavor that is only out to tease us around Christmas time. This might be my absolute favorite.

I personally haven't tried the Creme Bruele, Eggnog, or Coconut Creme. This is due to the fact that I don't care for these flavors in real life, why would I want them in my coffee???

Ok, I guess there is no point to this blog, but it's fun to see everyone's opinion. Do you have a favorite flavor???? :)

No paradise here

I have become a creature of the night. I've worked nights long enough now that I am more comfortable sleeping during the day and being up at night. At 1am, no matter what kind of sleep I've gotten, I'm usually wide awake. So therefore, it's very odd for me to work days. Yet, today I ventured out into the land of day shifters and picked up an extra shift at work. We have a shift bid at work called Eshift. This functions much like eBay. We are able to "bid" on available shifts, which pay us more money. The average pay for these shifts is like $6-$8 more an hour. So, I have decided to pick up random shifts here and there. Now, for the most part, I usually pick up shifts starting at either 3pm or 7pm, but today...I picked up from 11 am-7pm. This was absurd!!! Although it was absolutely wonderful to be done with work at 730pm...day shift people are mean!!!!!!!!!!!! In the hospital world, they are needy, and unfriendly. It seems as though everyone is out to help themselves and no one wants to help anyone else?? Is it because we are shorter staffed at night that we work better together? Everyone seems much more willing to help everyone else. I was asked by several of the day shift nurses when I was going to swich to days and wouldn't I much rather work days....I was quick to inform that it would be awhile before I was anywhere close to working day shift. I like my night shift cronies!!! We're more of a team then I witness on the day shift.

Also, just a little note. I don't like Psychology. I'm currently enrolled in Human Development, I find this class absolutely boring!!!! My class is an internet course, so I don't have any fun lecture like Meg where I get to bust out in song along with Meatloaf....you're a lucky lady Meg!!!!

catching up

I have become a fan of Grey's Anatomy, but before I was only home every other Sunday night and usually forgot to set the tape, or the tape setting malfunctioned. Now, the show has moved to Thursday nights. Consequently, I'm rarely home then either. I asked my sister if she happened to tape the show. Sadly, no. But....Dawn informed me that you can watch it online at abc.com. So....I was able to get completely caught up on the season so far. Yeah!!! The internet is a wonderful thing!!!

closing and camping

Ok....So, I had my official closing on Friday September 29th!! I am no longer a home owner. I have mixed feelings about this. I had a very short time to collect myself, and move all my stuff out. Two and half weeks to be precises. I gave away most of my furniture, donated it. I learned the true meaning of "one man's trash is another's treasure." As I was gathering everything and placing it out for the AmVets folks to pick it up, my neighbor decided to pick through all my stuff and take what she needed. As I came out to leave for work, she asked me if I was giving this stuff away. I couldn't help myself and I had to play devils advocate...(I know, I'm going to hell) I so inocently said to her..."well, what if I wasn't giving it away? are you going to give me my luggage and crock pot back?" She stuttered a bit and said..."oh, I just assumed that you were giving it all away because it's outside, next to your garage door. " (mind you next to the garage, not on the curb) I told her she could have the stuff and to feel free to take it, but perhaps in the future she should wait to know that it's a give away.

So, back to the begining i left my couch, desk, a coffee table, christmas tree, desk and table and chairs. When I got home later that day. I had found that AmVets decided not to take the desk, christmas tree and one of my neighbors left me their speakers. Funny, there were no speakers when I left for work? Hmmm.....oh well.

So, I get the house all cleaned up and i had my slideshow of memories crying jag as I sat on in the middle of the living room floor s/p cleaning. Then, i left the house.

Friday is here. I show up for the closing and her realator (they buyers) informs me that the house looked absolutly wonderful and clean but I forgot to clean the oven. Ooops!!!

Closing is successful, I'm no longer a homeowner. But, all is for the better. I'm completely moved back into my home with Rose and Ralph. I sleep during the day, they sleep at night, so I just have to make sure not to wake them when I come home at odd hours of the night!

Immediately following the closing, i headed out to Oregon, IL for a relaxing weekend camping with some friends. We had a wonderful time. I learned that I CAN actually put up a tent with minimal help!! Although it was a bit cold, we had a wonderful time.