Ladybug! Ladybug! Fly away home!

So I have this project I started a few years back that I work on now and again. It involves poetry and scrapbooking paper. Actually, that's all it is- writing out poems I like and posting them on scrapbook paper. I know, I never claimed to be cool...

Anyway, Dee has introduced me to a few new poems I might use. When she saw my ladybug paper (oh come on, who doesn't love ladybugs??), I told her I wanted to use it but don't have a good poem for it. In the process of googling a particular ladybug nursery rhyme (vetoed), I came across some lady bug facts.

For example, did you know in Switzerland ladybugs are called "good God's little fatty"?


Image courtesy of one of my favorite artists who sadly passed away last year.

Putting the cart before the horse

So after a quiet day interspersed with crabby Seattlites, Dee and I finally made it for a sunset stroll at Golden Gardens. I was all excited to take her on one of my favorite lowtide walks and was disappointed that it was, in fact, high tide. Like, super high tide. Like, I read the tide table incorrectly yesterday. Oh well.

So we left the party scene and headed to Magnuson to let the dogs burn off some energy without burning up themselves (it was a toasty 90 degrees today). We met a couple with a black labradoodle that is strikingly like Gazza. Gazza is of course a labradoodle, but her eyes are an uncommon gold (think tiger's eye stones) and her body is a combination that I haven't seen much- lab body and blocky lab head with the springy poodle legs and tail. I don't know, you'd have to see it. Anyway, if I were to cut out her silhouette and put the other doodle (*snerk*) in front of it, they would match perfectly.

So the owners are a friendly couple and chatty. In the course of conversation, Dee mentioned something about photography and the dude said he had a camera like she was talking about that she could have. After a quick exchange of emails, we left.

He said he is a pastor of a local church, so we decided to verify that and look him up tonight. He is indeed the pastor and we surfed the site a bit. Our favorite part? Under the "plan for growth," they state plans to reach out to the community. Makes sense, right? How about, "we intend also to train the pastor." Uh, train your pastor? Really?

Hmm.

Tally ho!

I heard a modern day horror story the other day. A rather well known blogger that uses, um, Blogger lost all of his post in a system glitch. Without backup. Yowch. Maybe I should start backing these up for the sake of collecting the computer equivalent of dust? Seeing as how I'm on nights until July 28th, I suppose that will keep me busy. Oh yeah, and my awesome quilt (that is ridiculously time consuming)!

I've got my work cut out for me.

Update: Holy smokes! My LiveJournal blog goes back to August 2005!

Surprise, surprise!

It's sort of a running joke that Dee (my sister) and I are so completely different that we can't agree on anything. And I mean nearly everything. Whether it's music, decor, activities, food, or you name it, while we may not detest the other's preferences, they're certainly not our own.

I preface this post with that tidbit because I've gotten her hooked on boba tea. And then today we promised each other to try new flavors. And then we decided we liked the other's choice better.

A bag of cinnamon bears with my name on it in the middle of the sidewalk wouldn't have surprised me more.

Sand fantasy

I've been out not sleeping (much, anyway) and instead playing out in the sun with my sister and our dogs. If you happen to be stuck inside on a beautiful day or night like this, maybe this little clip will cheer you up. It's not a sand fantasy like my day on the beach, but maybe it can be for you?

The sun is coming up... and I am going down

So, I quit. I finally broke off my ties to the adult world. I'm now officially a singularly pediatric ICU nurse! The last day (or night, in this case) of orientation was Wednesday, and now they've cut me loose. Buahaha! Ready or not, here I come...

No but really. I have mixed feelings about the leaving of adults, but I think it's the right decision. Who'd have thought I'd leave Chicago and especially that I'd be working peds?? It's been an interesting year and a half.

I finally realized something the nurse educator said she discovered right away: people ask how you can work in peds because it's so unfair that they suffer. I've learned that I can work here because it's unfair. Now, I'm not saying adults deserve everything they get, but by and large, we do bring it on ourselves over years of treating our bodies badly. And yes, I'm right there with the best of 'em. But because it's so unfair with the wee ones, I find it easier to extend that much more grace, effort, and sympathy. Yes, it's gut wrenching but I find it personally more rewarding.

Plus everything is smaller and the hospital rocks.

Your turn

Pardon this lame post after the absence, but I've only got two brain cells to rub together at the moment so it's all you get.

KT just wrote a post about love and romance. It made me smile a lot to answer her question and now I'd really like to hear your stories. So tell me, what are some of your romantic memories?

C'mon. Suck it up and post. I'd really like to hear them :)

Rockin' the accent

So I have a little tracker thing for this blog (muahaha! I'm stalking you... stalking me!). Today I noticed somebody from Italy found this little ol' thing. I also see that it was by way of googling "Erica Gazza." I don't know why I was surprised that somebody from Italy found my site. I mean, I guess I should be surprised they didn't find it earlier.

Woofda Gucci Ragazza, as she is known in the high society circles she frequents, is ashamed that I call her 'Gazza. She's even more ashamed that I say it like the Midwesterner I (sometimes) am: Gazza, like the Gaza Strip. Oh yes, when she hits her teens, she'll be texting her friends all, "like, my mom is so lame! She's totally embarrassing at the park! I'll never get a date!"

Welcome to my world, beast! And happy six month anniversary :)

In which I answer my own question

May it be known that I'm the world's worst speller. I kid you not (though I'm sure you've all noticed by now anyway), I consistently tested below the fiftieth percentile in school for spelling. I'm pretty sure I never passed any of those spelling "pretests" that are a rite of passage for American school children. Yep, Thursday nights found me cramming for the actual weekly spelling full on "test."

Since I won't have handy-dandy Google on hand during the writing portion of the GRE, I've resigned myself to the fact that I'll just get docked for spelling. Kind of like I did in grade school for not writing cursive until they all just forgot about it.

Anyway, all this entry meant to ask was, why can't I ever spell "weird" correctly? I suppose I already know the answer to that.

Looking for my circadian rhythm...

Have you seen it anywhere? I last saw it a few weeks ago. I think all the sun and people scared it away. Maybe it was the dog?

Dude, my fridge has more food in it now than it ever has! I made a grocery trip shortly before Dee got into town and then she stocked it with all her stuff. I'm not accustomed to moving things around to find what I'm looking for. In fact, it's kind of overwhelming. Who knew there were more options than peanut butter and cottage cheese toast or pancakes?

Speaking of food, as Dee and I were driving down Roosevelt today, she was asking about certain shops and things along the way. When she asked about the QFC, I said I didn't know about it and didn't think there was one nearby. So then she turns around in her seat to point out the QFC... that we just passed. I was all, seriously? Have I been driving on this road for over a year and failed to notice the big grocery store?? In my defense, the sign isn't highly visible coming from the north (which is the only direction you'd be coming from on Roosevelt). I don't know, maybe I'm just not that observant.

PS: Hi Mara! I hope you're feeling better!!

Warning: grouchy post ahead!

We think Mom and Dad aren't coming back home. Got some messages saying something along the lines of, "see ya suckers!" Did I mention how jealous I am?



My mood is not improving much as today was my last day on, well, days for two months. I guess two months is better than a year, but still. And Saturday is the most bittersweet day of the year (summer solstice = days get shorter from now until December). Every party needs a party pooper and I'm filling that role today... Glad to be of some service.

Dee and I watched a gorgeous sunset from Shilshole tonight. I didn't expect many people to be there because it's Wednesday and all, but they were grilling out, playing volleyball, and having bonfires. Awesome.

On the way back home, we heard a country song that's been on the radio frequently. Every time I hear it I do a doubletake (you can do a doubletake auditorily right? Not just visually?). One of the lines says, "tie the cans on the back of the limosine", but I hear, "tie the kids to the back of the limosine." It cracks me up!

...and listen to blips of the heart

X chromosomes... unchecked

I love it out here and wouldn't move back to the Midwest (Chicago excepted, of course). I do, however, miss some of the Midwest people. In particular, the boys. You think I'm kidding, but I'm not- there are some really stellar guys comin' outta there. Like Jon McLaughlin.


photo courtesy of his site

But truly, while it may not be the most happenin' place in the country, the Midwest sure knows how to raise some good kids who turn into gentlemen.

Back to Jon... look at who he has toured with! I'm madly in love with his music and touring posse: Sister Hazel, Cowboy Mouth, Better Than Ezra, Josh Kelley, the Calling, Rufus Wainwright. Let me throw in some Jeff Black, the Paperboys, and Pat Green and I may just never need any other musicians. Ever. And to top it all off, he contributed to a movie with Patrick Dempsey.

Yep, I love me some Indiana boys. I would go on date with a Hoosier out here on that fact alone.

Thinking this has to be a joke

I was beginning to think I'd been passed by, being the big money maker I apparently am. Everybody seems to have already received their economic stimulus checks. I found out that while I was busy forking over even more hard-earned money to Uncle Sam, everyone else filed electronically... and now are getting their checks earlier than me.

So you can imagine how excited I was to get a letter from the IRS regarding the stimulus check this afternoon (straight to the bank with that sucker!). And then you can also imagine how dismayed I was to find that the entire purpose of that letter was to let me know that I have a check coming... within six weeks.

Really? Are you serious? Not only are you giving me back virtually the same amount I paid in taxes (why don't we just call it even?), but also you are wasting money on postage to me and countless others to let us know the check is coming? We need to downsize this beast of a government and fast!

Working my way towards diabetes

Since Wednesday evening, all I've been able to really stomach is Gatorade, a few pieces of toast, and canned peaches. My sugars must be through the roof.

To the midnight sun!

Gazza got some well deserved ball chasing between Golden Gardens and Carkeek park today (I learned that it's actually owned by the railroad and it's perfectly legal to let the dogs run leashless). Me? I plopped my tired body down in the sand to drink in the sun and Gatorade. Did you know that you can subsist on nothing but Gatorade for four days? I finally felt the first stirrings of hunger this afternoon and came back to try some solid food. It appears the danger is past and I'm eating toast with peanut butter (no cottage cheese... yet). In case you hadn't heard, salmonella is not my idea of fun. Whew. Good diet, though.

Mom and Dad are in Alaska right now. They're spending several weeks up there with Nicholas meeting up with old friends and exploring old haunts. Nicholas, the only true Sourdough of the family, gets to check out his roots. He was born in the same hospital Mom and Dad worked in. Should be a pretty awesome trip- I'm super jealous! We'll get all the pictures and stories, though, so that should be amusing :)

And of course, Happy Father's Day, Captain/Sir/Doc/Daddy Monster/Dad! We love you (and the white hairs we gave you too)!

How 'bout THEM tomatoes!

You know that big tomato recall across the big ol' US of A? Yeah, well I didn't. And guess what I had for lunch on Wednesday on my sandwich. Consequently, guess what I've been doing the past two days. I woke up still alive this afternoon, no thanks to salmonella, and the worst seems to be over.

The poor dog didn't leave my side on the bed for two whole days except to be dragged off to go to the bathroom. She just lay there watching me and snoozing. I think she deserves an award because I know I don't have that sort of dedication. Sorry guys!

While I don't have much else to talk about (figuring you don't want details and all), I did learn two interesting facts while drifting in and out of consciousness. One, Canada Dry ginger ale ("it's nooot toooo sweeet") is actually canned in... Texas. And Gatorade (originally from the University of Florida) is actually bottled in... Chicago. I know, wierd.

Anyway, I think what we've all learned here is that not reading the newspaper (or having a working tv) may be hazardous to your health.

But it's better than triple digits and humidity!

We're not having what could be considered a "cool summer breeze." No, it's more like an arctic blast with hurricane force winds. Gazza slept under a layer of blankets last night and the building shakes periodically from the wind off Lake Union. Apparently sometimes we like to have November in June.

Dee gets into town for the summer tomorrow. Her friends from Texas are visiting too. They're going to think Seattle is cold and rainy or something!

I searched Google Images for some classic Seattle pictures and fell in love with all of them. It's a beautiful city even when it does rain.


photo courtesy of MSN

On a serious note

Shaun Lunt got me through last summer with his blog Due Up. I had a major crush on him (and even emailed briefly). If there was ever a stranger's blog I could convince you to read, this would be it. This summer promised another great vicarious adventure. Very insightful and stunning photography.

Dad told me today that he died in a plane crash outside Dillingham. How incredibly sad :( He was a talented guy on all fronts and we've all lost somebody special.

Brownie points to those who can cite the last sentence

It's cold and rainy. It's snowing in the moutains. It's June. Does anybody else see anything so incredibly wrong with this scenario? Gazza loves it, but I don't. Dog, you'd better believe that if it were up to me, you'd be sweatin' it out! Or panting it out. Whatever.

You know what's not wrong in this crazy world, though? The Weepies and Matt Nathanson. I can't get enough of them. Does music get any better? I submit that it does not!

Crushed

In the span of two weeks, I seem to have developed a baby crush, high school crush, and grandpa crush. Oh, and a more realistic crush too. Realistic... but not obtainable. Oh well, three out of four ain't bad, right?

Politest? Most polite?

Dear punk kid at Ivar's Salmon House,

You are without a doubt, the sweetest, politest punk I've ever met. Thanks for the free hot chocolate and your smiles every time I stop by. You always know what I'm going to order and when a hot chocolate will make my day. Don't stop being goofy and making people laugh. I have a high school crush on you and hope some sweet punk girl does too!

Thanks,

Wenikio :)

This post is for KT

Have you had enough of the goring yet? Yeah, me too. So here we go with a new post (but only because KT asked nicely).

I went home this past week to see Nicholas graduate high school. It was a fun trip and he looks really good. He's got a cool group of friends :) And then Katie drove all the way to Valpo from Chicago to see me! Hooray!!

My life in Chicago seems like a lifetime ago, but every time I go back I find myself just as in love with the city as before. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, I guess. Wonder if I'll ever move back. While I miss my friends so much, I know things change. But I still love even just the city and think I would enjoy moving back and building off of what would be left. The problem is that I'd be living on the street, of course, because the cost of living is so ridiculously high and I don't think I could bring myself to take a nursing position there. So there is that. But maybe I'll just save up vacation time and spend a summer there couch crashing...

The Chuckster back home was his usual noisy self. His poor little legs are so twisted that he's turning into a house dog, but he doesn't seem to mind. We are talking about bringing him here to Seattle in the fall for Gazza. I bet they'd love each other, but we'll see.

Rudy needs a complementary spazz. He's such a goofy dog. Sometimes I think he's the most normal dog we've ever had because he acts like a dog, but other times he proves himself a total canine moron. Case in point: he tried to roll in me when I plopped down on the floor. Uh, dog? You roll in goose poop and smelly things, not people. Unless he was trying to tell me something? And then he went totally submissive on top of me. Belly up is submissive, yes, but I think you have to be on the ground, not on the person you're submitting to. But what do I know? I'm just a human.

Also? I'm getting my second Scrabulous wind on Facebook. Bring it on!

It ain't right!

Remember that email, "these are gonna hurt?" No? Some highlights:











(I have no idea who to credit for these pictures, but I will say they're not mine!)

So then my sister sent me a link to this picture. "Ow" just doesn't do it justice. How else could you describe what just happened?