Snow Day!

We rarely get enough snow in the Scenic City to allow for such festivities, but the other week we had a significant outpouring of the white stuff. When it snows, and actually sticks, it's a now or never moment. So there we were, Thumper donning a pair of rubber mechanic's gloves, and me in my clogs, or as he calls them, sandals. Above is a picture of our first snowman together, and yes, he's anatomically correct!

Merry Christmas!

All I have to say is that men are full of surprises. Just when you think they don't have a clue or that they aren't paying attention, they blow you out of the water! Well, at least mine does! Below is a picture of what Santa. . .uh. . .Thumper gave me for Christmas!

By the way, this is NOT an engagement ring so I better not find my comment section full of congrats and wedding questions. It's a love knot! Seriously! It's called an Everlon Love Knot - a Hercules Knot to be exact! It resembles strong, everlasting love, forged in the strength of a knot. It's perfect, but I won't be able to wear it for another 2 weeks as it has been sent off to be resized to fit my infant-sized finger - boo!

Setting the Mood

Every year I tell myself I am going to take that next step in Christmas decorating and buy a tree. Lord knows I have all the trimmings for one! I've even found myself wandering around the Christmas tree section at Wal-Mart and Lowe's picking and choosing which tree best suits my needs. Thumper always asks, "Why not just get a fake tree?" But the idea is just so artificial - no pun intended. If you're going to do Christmas, then you might as well go all the way. Besides, I love the smell of evergreen needles in the house. It's the best! Needless to say, I did not get a tree again this year. As much as I love the look and the feel of a tree, my wallet just doesn't agree that I should be paying $30.00 for something that I am going to put out for the trash men to haul away in about 3 weeks. So below are some pictures of what decorating I did do this year, and really what I do every year since I've been on my own. Enjoy!

Kitchen Table Centerpiece

My Jolly Snowmen

The "M" Word

The other night I had a dream that Thumper told me he was going to marry me. It wasn't a proposal, but more like a vocalization of what was to come in the future.

"I'm going to put a ring on that finger someday," he said.

I woke up that next morning, feeling almost excited and extremely relieved despite the fact that it was only a dream. I looked down at my hand, the absence of an engagement ring slapping me back into reality. The excitement of course is understandable. The relief? That deserves some explanation.

It's been awhile since I've been to a wedding. But this summer broke my streak of absence and on one of the hottest days of early summer I found myself standing next to my best friend as she was preparing to get remarried to Mr. Right. I soaked in the white dress, the pearls, the flowers. It was everything a wedding should be and more. There is something to be said about the importance of those actually taking the wedding vows. This couple in particular is really meant to be together.

This is exactly how I feel about Thumper. Deep down in my gut, I feel like this is the person I am meant to be with forever. And despite the happiness we both feel when we're together, we never address the future. And although I don't imagine that he is the type of person who never wants to get married, I often wonder if maybe that is why the subject is never brought up. But then there is a part of me that gently reminds myself about the person in question. This man is still trying to sort through, school and a career. His mind is a bit too preoccupied with the here and now to be worried about something as distant as marriage.

It would be easy too, I suppose, to get that relief that I'm seeking. It's really quite simple. I could just ask! But here too we go back to my "I love you" phobia. For a few months I had found myself saying it, only to be followed by silence. I hate to assume anything so I really had no idea if he felt the same. I was dying to just ask him - do you or don't you? But then after seeking advice from Voo Doo Number Lady at work, I figured that I'd just give him his space and allow him to tell me his feelings when he was ready. In the end I was beyond glad that I didn't pressure him and when he finally told me how he felt, it was better than me asking.

Thus I think this is one of those subjects better left for a rainy day and a more open mind.

Darwinian Nursing

Half of the stress of my job has absolutely nothing to do with the patients, which quite frankly is extremely pathetic. A bad night can easily be determined by simply whom you are working with.

Office drama, as it is often called, or unit drama, as I like to call it, can suck your energy dry just as quickly as a crashing patient. And the good 'ole fashioned concept of loyalty really ceases to exist the minute you walk through those double doors. It's sink or swim - all for one, and one for me. It's essentially survival of the fittest.

People will step on whomever they have to to get ahead, whether it be friend or foe. Nothing is sacred. So you really have no friends in this place. Therefore, there is little point in placing any effort into a work related relationship of any kind, because when it comes right down to it you are just another rung on the ladder of success that someone needs to climb over in order to get to the top.

And don't think for a minute that they won't do it because human nature is far more powerful than mere principles. Anything that serves to benefit the party in question, especially money, takes precedence over emotional ties shared between two individuals. I am speaking here from recent, personal experience.

So take my advice and channel your energy into something more fruitful. That way you have nothing to lose, and everything to gain. How's that for survival of the fittest?

Sinking Ships

I must admit, I've been holding out a little bit on my readers. I have so much on my mind, and although I don't ever mention specific names in this blog, I sometimes hesitate to express everything that I'm feeling for fear that someone comes along and accuses me of slander.

Blogs, like journals and diaries, are like smoking guns - once thoughts and feelings are committed to paper, and read by others, they set forth to do their damage.

I'm generally not a mean person, and I don't particularly like to gossip. But there is the rare occasion where I have something to say and it's not all sweet and sugarcoated. Sometimes the truth hurts. I really do make an honest effort to see things objectively, and with age I've taken more kindly to constructive criticism.

Despite all these things, I still have managed from time to time to get myself into hot water over this very blog. It's in times like these a saying from my mother comes to mind - "Loose lips sink ships."

Speechless

No words are necessary - this picture speaks for itself!