This morning I worked from 6:30 until 12:30.  I got off then because since I had overtime from Saturday I needed to burn it off. I intended to burn it all off today but I miscalculated because I forgot to figure in a lunch hour, and so that means I'll still need to burn off another hour tomorrow.  Hopefully I can just leave early and not have to do an extended lunch.  It doesn't really matter either way though.

After leaving work, I went and had lunch with my friend from church at his office.  He picked up Chipotle, so that was delicious as always. 

From there I went to have the split ends cut off my hair.  I didn't have it blow dried or anything, just the ends cut off.  It feels much better.  The ends were completely fried and dried and looked like straw hanging from my head.

Then off to the nail place where I went to have an eyebrow wax.  I really don't have bad brows at all, but it is the one luxury I allow myself on a regular basis because it makes me feel so much better about myself.  I could easily pluck them, but this makes me feel better and adds a level of confidence. 

This evening was a bit odd.  When I moved out from T's house, I had taken my engagement ring, just because it was in my jewelry box, and at the time we didn't really know what would happen, etc.  So this whole time, I've had it in my box, and he hasn't brought it up.  Last night he sent me an email and said that he'd like to have it back.  So I invited him to come over tonight and have dinner, and pick up the ring.  It was actually a really fun evening.  Then, when he was leaving I gave it back to him.  That was a sad thing to do, but I felt peaceful about it, and I could tell he did too.  It is a bit of closure for him, and since I haven't worn it in months, I certainly didn't feel upset that he asked for it back... I've been wondering off and on when he would ask anyway.  He held on to the situation for longer than I did, and he didn't want to admit the huge differences between us.  But, now that he is coming to grips with things a bit, it was just something he needed to do, and that is fine.  I am happy with the fact that even though things between us have changed, there really isn't bitterness on either part and he is still a great person and a great friend to me.  I'm really blessed by God for allowing this to be the way it is, and I'm thankful to Him. 

The kiddo just got out of the shower. We played outside tonight and his feet were absolutely black. Gross!!  

Happy that tomorrow is Friday!!!!  woohooo

Today was just kind of..... crappy.  I really tried hard to stay in a positive mood...but it was a struggle!

The meeting that I had been planning about 45 minutes for this morning turned into an hour and a half.  I was assigned a project that I was hoping to complete today and didn't even get to START on until 3:00 this afternoon.  I had to go meet with and/or call patients pretty much every single time I got started doing something else, so there were constant interruptions.  I had two phonecalls with VERY mad patients.  One turned out fine, and the other one I ended up talking to twice and she is still unhappy.  She said some of the most shocking and absurd things that I've heard recently.  It is hard right now in my position because everyone is having such a hard time financially that they are paying much more attention to their medical bills than they ever did before, and they are looking hard to find things to complain about in the hopes that they will either get a write off or a reduced price for their bill.  The things they come up with as complaints are actually laughable, and sometimes just plain insulting.  Today someone told me that she thinks the reason why one visit cost more than she was expecting is because we moved offices six months ago and the overhead is higher so she knows that is why the visit was coded at a higher level of service.  That was just so offensive to me, on behalf of the doctor, because she absolutely 100% did NOT do that!  I couldn't even believe someone would have the nerve to say that about one of the doctors I work for.  They may be guilty of a lot of things, but that certainly is NOT one of them!  Sheesh.   Anyway, it was just one of those days.  I felt like someone was following me around with a video camera and then paying people to give me a hard time about everything I did just to see at what point I would snap and completely freak out.  It was so weird. 

Thank goodness it is bedtime and I can start again tomorrow!

I got lots of things done after work this evening!  It has been productive!

I took my son to the park, and he played with some boys there for about an hour.  My friend came over while I was there and we got the chance to catch up a little bit, which is really nice.  I really like her, but we hardly ever get the chance to really hang out anymore.

When we got home I did dinner for the kiddo, and then I've done laundry, dishes, cleaned the kitchen, picked up the living room, and cleaned the hallway bathroom.  That is pretty good for it being only 8:00 now!  I feel successful! hahah.

Current book: very silly.  It is about a mermaid.  A real mermaid, not a like The Little Mermaid.  So....it is silly.  It is fine, and I'll finish it, but of course it is hard to take very seriously.  Of course, I suppose if I were going for serious, I wouldn't have picked this book in the first place!

Today was good... slow as far as patient count, but nice time to get caught up on things and get ahead a little bit.Tomorrow morning I'll be on phones-as well as every other Tuesday morning from now on.  Normally that would be really difficult, but since we are slower, it is ok for now.

I got lots of things done when I got home this evening.  I cleaned and cleaned, and we went grocery shopping, and got that taken care of.  I am happy about that because it means I don't need to go back to the store for the rest of the week.  Yay!

Hmmm... I guess nothing else new to report here.  Isn't it sad about the cruise ship that ran aground and killed people last week?  I wonder what happened with the captain of the ship. I heard her was arrested, but I didn't hear what exactly happened and why the accident occurred in the first place. Maybe he was drinking? Or maybe he just fell asleep?  I don't know.

So, the recipe for the week was actually called Cajun Beef Stew! Not just regular old beef stew!  It had cajun spices in it, which I had never used before.  I liked the way they smelled in the bottle.  The stew had red potatoes, carrots, onion, and the stew meat in it, along with beef broth and the spices.  It was very good.  It had enough spice that you could taste it, but not so much that it made your tongue burn. I think it was very good and I would make it again, and I would even make it for company (if it was cold outside, of course).

This week, the recipe is going to be Chocolate Mousse Horns.  They look good.  A bit complicated on the pastry end because I'll have to make a horn out of tin foil for each pastry and try to get the foil out without breaking the pastry.  Should be a challenge.  I like having other people pick out recipes that they think look good because it provides me with a challenge and keeps me from getting stuck in a rut.  This one was picked out by a person I go to church with.  Should be fun

This was such a great weekend!  I worked at the office on Saturday morning for exactly three hours.  Then I met up with a friend from church who is a realtor.  We went around looking at houses to see what is available in the area near my son's school, and also in an area that is fun to look and dream, but which I could never actually afford to live in, and is not in the right district anyway.  That was so much fun.  Anyway, after that I made beef stew in the crockpot (without burning the house down), and then today was church and then lunch, and then relaxed and took a really quick nap.  It was awesome.  And it isn't even 8:00 yet!!!

Last night was a meeting at church rather than our normal Wednesday services.  It was to meet with the interim pastor and discuss how things will be handled until a new pastor is called.  It was... weird.  I had no idea that the normal time to find a new pastor is 6 to 18 months! That is a long time!  I hope that we can find a great man though...I guess then it would be worth the wait.

I'm very tired today and feel kind of down in the dumps.  I'm hoping to snap out of that tomorrow, though!  After all, it is going to be Friday!

I really need to go to the grocery store.  I am going to make a new recipe of beef stew this weekend.  It has different spices in it and isn't just called "beef stew", but I don't have the recipe with me so I'll have to get it later.

I am reading a series of books right now...the Undead series.  They are a lighthearted series of books about a girl who gets ran over by a truck (I think-I hope I haven't forgotten) and wakes up a vampire.  They are not anything like the Twilight series..  these are intended for lighthearted fun.  The first few were actually very funny and made me laugh out loud.  Now-6 books in, I think they are amusing, but not actually laughing out loud funny.  I'll still finish the ones I have, but I'll be glad to move on to something else.  I got these at a yard sale for about a buck or something, so I definitely think they were worth that much!

Today we were talking about guns at work.  I am really surprised at how many of my coworkers have never fired a gun, and how many of them are actually scared of firearms.  I was raised around guns so they don't frighten me at all-I just think it is important to have a healthy respect for them and enough knowledge to be safe and not shoot yourself or anyone else.  I'll never be a super knowledgeable gun collector or anything, but I think it is important to know how to handle a weapon and defend yourself if necessary.  I can't imagine having an actual fear of guns.  It was an interesting conversation.

Off to fold some laundry!

Today my coworker's brother passed away.  He had been battling brain cancer for a little less than a year and a half.  He was suffering so much in the recent months, and it got to the point where he was no longer responsive and he was only making noises related to pain. It was good that he passed and he can be peaceful again...and he knows God, so he is in a much better place.  That being said, it is still sad to see my friend go through the loss of her brother.  She has dealt with a lot in the past few years.  She has lost her mom, her dad, another brother, this brother, and the vision in one of her own eyes.  She is a really strong and sweet lady, and my prayers are with her and her family.

Something rather sad happened recently within my church. I know that ultimately it is a good thing, and they are trying to follow the will of God, but my Pastor and the worship director both retired.  Today was their last Sunday at my church.  They have both been there and they started the church together 27 years ago.  They felt that it was time for them to retire and that they were no longer effective in leading and growing the church.  They are right, and they are wise to make this decision so that the church can continue to move forward and grow, but it is so sad and today was such a bittersweet day for them . The Pastor is 73 years old and he is retiring, and the music director is in her late 60's.  She is retiring also, although I kind of think that they will both end up in different areas of ministry somewhere else.  Either way, it was sad and touching and a very emotional Sunday.  They are both wonderful, wonderful people and I'll miss them.  Of course I will stay in touch, but it won't be the same as having them there 2 times a week without fail.  It is a change.. and sometimes change is necessary, and I know that...but sometimes it is still hard!  Prayers for them and for their peace as this is also a major change in their lives and the lives of their families.

Well, the first week of the new year has been good....weird, but good.

My first new recipe: Pearl Pesto Salad.  It is a pasta salad with pesto, tomatoes, corn, and olive oil in it.  Pretty good, although I think it will be better when it gets good and cold.  I just ate it warm to see what the flavor would be like, so am now waiting for it to chill.  I'm going to my parents tomorrow so I'll take a bowl with me because it made a ton and I'll never be able to eat it all on my own.

I sent an inquiry to the nursing home near my apartment to see about volunteering.  They misunderstood and wrote back to schedule a tour for me to go LIVE there.  I'll just stop by on my way home one day next week instead.

I hope that all of you are having a great new year so far.  There is more for me to write, but my little man is getting out of the shower so we have to get him ready for bed now!