This Girl .....

Caiti with her first heart rock find! She's a chip off the old block!

"In thy face I see the map of honor, truth and loyalty." -Wm. Shakespeare

..... is not really a girl, she's a woman. When I was her age I was married and getting ready to give birth to my third child, her younger brother. This is my oldest daughter Caitlin as she's known at work (if I call and ask for Caiti, they don't know who I'm talking about), Caiti at home, Sweet Pea to me. She graduated from the SMCC/Maine Medical Center Surgical Technology Program yesterday. We are so proud of her!

Please don't laugh, thankfully she doesn't look like us!

Caiti spent a year and a half at U Maine Farmington studying to be a middle school special ed teacher. She decided that teaching probably wasn't for her, not because of the children, but because most parents weren't like her dad and I (love). She had wanted to be a teacher since she was in kindergarten. She thought she might like to become a nurse. So, instead of immediately transfering schools and majors, she took a semester and applied, was accepted, and graduated from MMC's Certified Nurse's Aide Program in the spring of 2007. She wanted to make sure this really was the career path for her. Boy is it!

She has worked on MMC's Cardiac Intensive Care Unit since the spring of 2007. She spent a year or two just working, but her dad and I kept pushing her to return to school. She resisted for a bit because she really likes her job - loves the direct patient care. She finally relented a few years ago and applied to nursing school at SMCC and was put on the waiting list. It's a long waiting list. It's a two year R.N. program and it's affordable, unlike the three other colleges/universities that are local and very expensive. She wanted to graduate relatively debt free.

The loves of my life!

Well, she got tired of working full-time (weekend overnights, Th, Fri & Sat) and going to school full-time, just taking classes to be in practice for that load when she was able to enter the nursing program. So, last summer she decided to apply to the Surg Tech program. Ultimately she wanted to be an OR nurse so she thought this would be a nice next step toward that end. She was accepted, and two weeks after she paid for her first semester in full, she got the letter that she was accepted into the nursing program. Major Bummer.

Holy mackerel, we are a motley crew.

She was upset at first, we told her it was just money and we'd find a way to help her with nursing school. She decided to stay where she was because it's really hard for brand new nurses to obtain positions locally, many of them are having to leave the state; our hospitals are having cut-backs.
Staying in the program was the right decision for her at this time in her life. She loves it, has an affinity for it, and it's shown her that this is the correct career path for her. Maine Med's program is one of the most vigorous in the country, it is a 12 month program as opposed to the 2 years most programs are. She did this while maintaining excellent grades (3 tests a day the first 6 months, multiple papers per week), school was Monday-Friday all day, and working full-time through the first 6 months, and cutting back to 2 overnights for the second 6 months. She has completed her Associates Degree in Allied Health. I am in awe of her!

Caiti and her fiancee Geoff.

She's now getting ready to begin the next phase of her life - she's accepted a position at The Aroostook Medical Center in Presque Isle, Maine (or as my father-in-law calls it, God's country). Unfortunately for us, this is 5 hours away from home (it's that hospital cut-back thing). We would have loved for her to have obtained a job locally (so would her fiancee), but it wasn't in the cards. She'll also be working on her Bachelor's in Allied Health at UMPI while there. The good thing about this move is that she's moving to a place where she'll know a few people. Our former next-door neighbors moved back home to Presque Isle 7 years ago, so she has family there to comfort and look out for her when we can't. She also has lots, and lots of relatives on her grandfather's side she'll have the opportunity to meet and get to know. All-in-all, not a bad situation!

Caiti, we love you so very, very much. You have made us proud to be your parents every single day of your life. You are one of the great loves of my life. Congratulations on your graduation!

Bead Soup Goodies



On Saturday I received my Bead Soup from my partner Marci Brooks. I have several designs in my head for what I'm going to create; earrings, a bracelet and the focal will be part of a necklace that I made a few years ago and love (color-wise), but it's too short and doesn't flow correctly. I'm going to fix that! Thank you so much for my beads Marci! Hope you love yours & can't wait 'til the September 17 Bead Soup Blog Hop reveal!

Relieving Stress

Grab a drink (preferably a stiff one) and settle in. This is going to take a while.

Stress. Some days I think my picture belongs next to the definition in the dictionary (I'm sure I'm not the only one who feels this way). To cap off the stressful day, I went to the main branch of the post office in Portland to mail my scrap sterling and PMC silver to Rio Grande. I've been collecting these bits and bobs for about 6 or 7 years now. I had 6.1 ounces (5.55989 oz troy), not a small amount of money to cash in so it was worth the trip. Sort of.

I locked my car. I know that I locked my car because I double clicked the button on my key fob. How do I know I did this? I always do it, it drives Hazel nuts. I always make him double click it to set the alarm when we get out of the car. I know I did it because I heard beep and saw the lights flash.

I walked across the parking lot, entered the lobby, selected the mailing envelope (6x10 padded) and a roll of packing tape. I set my pocketbook and keys on the counter, filled out the envelope, inserted the baggie of silver along with the form from Rio into the envelope and sealed it. Then I waited in line for the counter.

I paid for the envelope, tape, postage and insurance, stopped at another counter to clip everything together and put it into a pocket in said pocketbook. Then I walked out to my car. When I got to my car I needed my keys, so I reached into my pocketbook. Now, the pocketbook is a mess, but I can reach in and get my keys when I need them. I purposely do not carry a really large pocketbook, for just this reason. It's a small to medium size bag. The keys were not there. Dummy. I walked back into the lobby; no keys on either counter so I looked in the recycle bin where I deposited a pull tab, nothing.

  

Dummy. Back out to the car I do, 'cause I must have left the keys in the ignition, but I swore I locked the car with the key fob. Yep, that's how I locked the car 'cause the keys aren't in the car. Back into the post office, eyes to the ground, scanning for my keys. Nuthin'. I look around the lobby again. Zip. I stand in line to speak with the clerk who just helped me. Nope, he didn't find any keys on that counter either. Dummy.

Back through the lobby, scanning everywhere (even the recycle trash again), out through the parking lot (scanning again) to the car. Nope, zilch. Dummy. Back to the post office lobby. I wait in a long line to speak with the clerk who helped me again. (I'm sure by this point whoever reviews the security camera footage is wondering what the hell cell I'm attached to) I now ask the clerk who helped me if he can retrieve the package I'm mailing to New Mexico. He finds it and gives it to me. Nope, I don't feel keys in the package. I ask if I'll have to pay for new postage if I open the envelope to make sure. Nope, just tape it back up. I open the package, no keys. I move off to the side to tape the envelope up like it was Fort Knox, wait in line for the clerk and then ask him to as his co-worker if anyone turned keys in. Nada. Dummy.

Back to the car I go, scanning (and now cursing roundly) the lobby, floor and parking lot. Nothing. I sit on the metal barricade, sigh and call Hazel. TWICE!! He didn't answer his phone, so I call Caitlin to have her tell her dad to answer the DAMN PHONE! I explain my situation, "Did you look in your pocketbook?".........."Did you check your pockets?".......... (a line of dots is me tapping my foot and glaring). He is instructed to bring me a key.

Hazel and Hazel Jr. bring the car key and feel the need to inspect in and around the car for my keys. THEY'RE NOT THERE, hence the phone call for help! They then feel the need to back-track the parking lot and look through the post office lobby (I expect a visit from the FBI, CIA or Secret Service tomorrow); THEY'RE NOT THERE!!!!! "I think someone took your keys." YA' THINK?!? Back out to the car we go.  I attempted to call the post office to leave my name and number in case a good samaritan decides to turn my keys in (right). Do you know how hard it is to get a phone number to your local post office?? Extremely. Then, when you do get the number (and you're told it's staffed 'til 7 so someone should answer) and no one answers, how frustrating it is? Well, let's say LOTS.

I am now convinced that someone is going to waltz into our home and steal all of our valuables, not that there are that many, but there are a good number TV's and computers here. My family thinks I'm a lunatic; well, they know I'm a lunatic but that doesn't matter. So, when I get home at 7:00 after this debacle and have added a pile of stress to an already stressful day, it's not really a pretty sight. Matty (Hazel Jr.) comments that I should go to his friend Nick's sunflower field with my camera and take pictures to relieve my stress. THAT is EXACTLY what I had wanted to do with my late afternoon/early evening before post office aerobics was in session. He even took pity on me and put his dinner aside, drove me out there in his truck and patiently waited while I took pictures (you have no idea how out of character this is). Thank you Matty for knowing exactly what mom needed today and obliging me. I love you.

P.S.- And fertheluvapete, if you took my stinkin' key fob from the Portland post office today, return the dang thing to them and tell them you found them on the ground in the parking lot!! Thank you.

Bead Soup Has Arrived!

My Bead Soup from Marci arrived today (no time to photograph today but I will) and I'm excited! I've been pulling items this afternoon to go with it!! I have an overall concept in my head for the necklace I'm going to make with the focal, and the earrings and bracelet I'm going to make with the beads and clasp. I can't wait to dive in! Thank you Marci!!

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Bead Box

Quick!! You have 'til midnight tonight to go to The Bliss Guild's blog and leave a comment to possibly win the opportunity to have the bead box come to your house. Alice of The Bliss Guild has enjoyed having it at her home and has added some great treats to the box. I know I'd like it to come to mine!

The Traveling Bead Box was started by the amazing Heather Powers of Humblebeads. Click here for the original post about the box. Good luck!



Soup Is On!!

My Bead Soup package has been mailed to Marci (though I forgot to put her card in, so that's going to arrive separately). I hope she loves them! I'm anxiously awaiting Marci's beads to me!

When I found out Marci was my partner and went to her blog, I was struck by what we have in common. I think our lives are probably quite different, yet there are things that really struck me. I told Lori in an email that I had to close my laptop and walk away for a day before I could write to Marci. The last blog post Marci had written talked about her insecurities about joining the BSBP group (me too), her frustration with disorganization and being overwhelmed though she's a very organized person (me too), their dog (oy, me again), how her husband is her rock (me too), our age (youthful!). The similarities were striking, but that's not what's most striking.

Then there was Marci's post about memory beads, now that piqued my interest. You see, we lost our beautiful T.J. just over seven years ago. I've had the rose petals from his funeral in a bag all this time waiting to be made into rose petal beads. I also have my grandmother's rose petals from her funeral six and a half years ago for the same purpose. It was a shock, yet a pleasant one. It just seemed to me that it was meant that we were to be paired!

As I said to Lori, I don't know if it was Divine intervention, kismet, the divine bead goddess or what, but I do believe I was meant to participate in this project at this time in my life. It just feels right and I can't wait to jump in with both feet!

The Bead Soup Blog Party Is Here!

And I'm so excited! It's going to be a lot of fun to stretch myself creatively and emotionally too. I've been in a rut for quite a while. I work all day and come home emotionally drained, not wanting to really do anything. I started making conscious choices about a year ago to make changes in my life, drastic change is necessary (especially as I approach 50). It seems that I take a step forward and several back, but at least I'm moving right? I intend to move forward toward a more positive place and shovel the crap out as I go.

I have been paired with Marci Brooks of Moose Petals. I am so excited to get to know her (more on why in a later post)! I sent my introductory email to her last evening and await her reply. I'm pondering heavily what I'll be sending to her, I want the package to be special.

I especially want to thank Lori Anderson our party hostess (with the mostest!). Thank you Lori!! It is a herculean task that she has willingly and with an open heart taken on. There are 363 participants in this blog hop. THREE HUNDRED AND SIXTY THREE!! Lori does this all free of charge and has spent days and days and days (and days) looking at the participants blogs and doing her best to carefully match up participants. She's lost a lot of sleep over it (and she doesn't even charge us to participate!). I HEART HER!!

I'll post the beads I receive when I receive them & I'll post the beads I send to Marci once I know she's received them!