Baby Penguins Cure Everything

Sleep solves everything, too.

Linens and (Other) Things

I've been meaning to post about this for about a week, but work's got me all sorts of wiped out lately! Last weekend, my new sheets came from The Company Store. They're 100% cotton jersey sheets in gunmetal grey. They're sooooo soft...just like a giant T-shirt. I chose this color because it matches both the comforter I use for the warmer months and the comforter I use for the cooler ones. Definitely a purchase I'm glad I made.

I read an article recently about the worst word in the English language (according to the author, of course). She said it's "panties." I have to say, I disagree. I think "panties" is sexy, and yes, I use it in every day conversation. I don't like using terms as plain as "underwear" to describe a woman's underthings. "Panties" sounds delicate, much like the frilly, lacy, sometimes-barely-there-intimates a woman wears; it sounds pretty to me.

I hope this weekend finds you well. I slept 15 hours last night. It was glorious, and no, I will not apologize for it.

Killing Me Softly...

Have you ever felt yourself so consumed in something, you knew it was practically eating your soul? I came to that realization today. I sat around all morning, just stewing, when I paused...took a breath...and said to myself, this is consuming me. The impossible part is that I know the solution; I know how to make things better. It's the acceptance of that solution...the actual going through with it...that I can't bring myself to do. I honestly don't think I have it in me. But...I don't know how much longer I can deal with the consuming rage that is taking chunks out of my soul, either.

To getting out alive...

Jeff VanVonderen Would Be Proud

Today at work, I helped a woman track down her health records and put together a copy for a substance abuse treatment facility in Minnesota. She's going there for inpatient treatment of her alcoholism. For one reason or another, it made me feel really good to help her. I could tell she was really grateful and when we were wrapping up, she said, "Thank you so much. I really hope you have a great day." It doesn't seem like much, but it meant a lot to me. I got to play a part in her recovery, which I think is awesome. This is the first step in her wellness. I admire her for seeking out help; getting clean isn't easy. It takes balls to go through that. I know that from my personal experience, withdrawal can be hell. I would love to work in a treatment facility as an RN. I think I would make a good nurse. Too bad you have to be on your feet nonstop for 12 hours a day. But, helping people who truly need and WANT your help would be so rewarding. Seeing the impact you have on others every day would really make the job worthwhile. I wish that woman all the best in her journey to sobriety.

Not Your Momma's Oatmeal

I know the summer has barely come to a close. I know the average temperatures are still in the 70s and 80s. I know most kids aren't even back to school yet (come tomorrow, though...). However, I just can't shake my excitement for fall! As I leave for work early each morning, the little chill in the air is a small reminder that the BEST season is surely on its way. I love the changing leaves, the scent of autumn, fall decorations, fall foods (I'm a HUGE fan of soups and stews), Halloween is my favorite holiday, and then, of course, there's my birthday. :)

Since I LOVE to sleep, I roll out of bed 20 minutes before I have to leave for work...I do as much as I can at night...shower, pack my lunch...everything. Also, when you wear black scrubs to work every day, picking out your work clothing isn't exactly rocket science, so it takes me literally 2 minutes to get dressed. Because of my penchant for sleep, I really don't have a whole lot of time in the morning to eat breakfast. I keep Pop-Tarts at work to toast in the cafeteria, but I need something new (but still quick). So...I've been eating oatmeal once I get to work. I like the pre-packaged type well enough, but as I sat eating my oatmeal on Friday, I started thinking about the ways I could improve upon it.

Enter baked berry oatmeal. I've never made baked oatmeal in the past, but I was always intrigued. One of the high points of baked oatmeal is that you can make it in advance and just reheat portions as you need them.Thanks to the steel-cut oats, this stuff stays with you for awhile, ensuring you'll be good to go until lunchtime. My favorite part is the topping...a dollop of vanilla yogurt topped with warm strawberry jam. Did I mention there are strawberries laced throughout the oatmeal itself, too? Because there are...

Baked Berry Oatmeal

Ingredients

2 1/2 cups rolled oats

1/2 cup steel-cut oats

2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

2 cups milk

1 egg, beaten

1/3 cup applesauce

1/2 cup oil 

1/4 cup honey

1/4 cup brown sugar

2 cups strawberries (fresh or frozen)

Garnish

Strawberry jam, warmed

Vanilla yogurt, regular or Greek

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. In a large bowl, stir together rolled oats, steel-cut oats, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. Set aside.

3. In a medium bowl, combine milk, egg, applesauce, oil, honey, and brown sugar. Add to oat mixture and stir until combined (it will seem like it's too wet, but the oatmeal will soak it up in the oven).

4. Pour into a greased 2-quart dish.

5. Bake for 20 minutes.

6. Remove from oven, stir, and mix in berries.

7. Bake for 20 more minutes,  or until lightly browned. Spoon into bowls and serve with a dollop of yogurt and warm jam on top.

Enjoy with a steaming mug of joe on a cool, still morning.

Six Degrees of Separation

At work, I had forgotten my password for an application, so I called Information Services (IS) to get them to change it for me. After I got off the phone, Barb came over to my desk. She said, "Did I hear you say your name is Christina Nelson?" I said yes. She then said, "Are your parents Steve and Dawn Nelson?" Again, I said yes. She said, "I think my ex used to work with your dad." I asked what her ex-husband's name was and she said, "Pat O'Hearn." I started tearing up immediately (as did she) and we both said, "Oh my God!" My dad and Pat were really good friends and they did, in fact, meet through work. I had been to her house numerous times when I was a kid and I vividly remember playing with her daughters, Leah and Jacie. Small world, indeed!

So...I know it's been f o r e v e r since I've updated this thing. Work has got me so busy. I'm gone 12 hours a day (well, almost...11.25) and by the time I get home, I just want to eat dinner and crash-out on the couch. I've been helping to plan our 10-year high school reunion and it's been slow goin' because I just never have time to do anything! Also, it's hard to plan something with someone who's on the other side of the world. See, I was our class secretary and treasurer and Kristen (who was our class vice-president) lives in Australia. We've literally planned this whole thing via e-mail and Facebook messages. Our class president pretty much came right out and said he'd help, but he didn't plan on attending (read: he hasn't been of much help at all).

That's pretty much been my life lately...work. Sorry I don't really have more exciting things to discuss. I really love my job, though. And, it's going really well. I couldn't have asked for a better position.

Time to find something for dinner!

Singles vs. Couples

So...as many people know, I started a new job this week. More on that later. At lunch one day, one of the girls asked me if I had a boyfriend or if I was married. I kind of laughed and said that I haven't been serious about a guy in a long time (well, save for one guy). She nodded and then was quick to point out that though she and her husband had been married for 8 years (together for 14), they "have [their] own lives." It got me wondering why she felt it necessary to qualify her marriage. I certainly don't care if someone has been married for a number of years at our age...more power to them. Maybe she thought I was avoiding a relationship or marriage, so she felt the need to dumb hers down. Who knows. I just found that interesting.

Work has been...intense. It's a lot to know and very involved. Plus, I didn't exactly go to school for my position (medical records specialist). I didn't lie to get the job or anything like that. Over the course of my schooling, I took a handful of classes on medical records, but I went to school mostly for medical transcription. I applied to this position on a whim, probably just thinking it wouldn't hurt (I actually don't remember applying to this position...I had a very large fear I wouldn't find work after graduating and therefore, applied like a madwoman to open healthcare positions). This position is largely a HIM position. There's a lot to know and very little downtime to regroup and do nothing for a moment. Plus, I'm on my feet a lot more than I realized I'd be. Not that I'm complaining. When I walk through the door each evening, though, it does look like I just got done with football practice, the way I'm limping so badly. But, I just keep telling myself that this is the most I've been on my feet (in a day) in at least 3 years, so it'll take some getting used to, but eventually, it won't be so bad.