isabel1443

Wed, 23 Dec 2009 04:53:02 GMT

Good riddance to this month. I'm feeling pretty damn fried, and can't even
deal with the usual "holiday stress" at the moment. I'm over it.
In less than one month:
David got laid off. I am for now the sole breadwinner, with 2 of 4 kids in college;
We said goodbye to Missy, our 15 year old Laborador, my "5th child";
We said goodbye to David's Mother, who passed away Sunday night, as I held her
hand and watched her slip away.
I don't think I'll ever get used to feeling a heartbeat one moment, then the next feeling it fade away.

Some brighter notes:
My blood sugar is well-controlled;
I am going to sit for the Bariatric Nurse Certification
Exam in January. Which means I gotta get my rear in gear...
I WILL pass.
I had an amusing hour and a half of one-on-one with my son (picking out
glasses at WalMart yesterday in the chaos...hey, ya gotta get it when you
can...)
I made a right tasty amaretto...
My friend said as his son was horsing around and fell on the ice, "That which does not
kill you makes you stronger."

Samantha remembers Missy

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 03:58:47 GMT

I remember when she first came into my life. I was about four years old. My mom brought her home from the Richmond SPCA. I was frightened at first and clung to the white column which supported our front porch. She was merely a black blur as she zoomed around her new home. All I could see was a dark blur. I was scared. This was the first dog that I had ever truly known. I remember when we named her. I wanted to name her Diamond, because of the white spot on her chest. I remember Christmas. Nathan had gotten a new train set. Missy placed herself over the train tracks and made a bridge with her legs. Every time the train passed underneath him, she would bark at it. I remember Fourth of July. My family would have a cookout and light fireworks. I was in charge of keeping Missy under control while the fireworks went off. Unfortunately, Missy escaped from my grasp, and headed straight for the fireworks table. She barked at each firework as it shot off. We had to stop the show and put her into the house. I remember when we came home one night, and there was a snake on the porch to greet us. Missy pounced at the snake and kept it busy while my dad went to get the shovel to kill it. I remember Missy always coming into my room, just so she could sleep with someone. I loved having Missy sleep in my room. I remember the baths, the walks, the holidays, and all of the other precious memories. She was my faithful pet, and best friend for 15 years. I love her very much, and she will always have a special place in my heart. RIP Missy.

Missy 1994-2009

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 23:37:59 GMT

I got her from the Richmond SPCA one Saturday morning, and surprised everyone. The kids grew up with her. She was very protective of them, and of me, and once a snake had slithered up on the front porch at dusk, and as the kids piled out of the car and ran towards the porch, Missy jumped on the snake and held it at bay till we realized what it was and David could run to the shed and get a hoe. She loved to dig, (No azalea or petunia was safe) loved the water, and loved her family. Amy and I were with her when it was time to go.

Good Dog.

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 02:07:20 GMT

I didn't get to go to David's family Thanksgiving Friday due to being on call in the afternoon, so I found myself with some free time this weekend. I took the opportunity to head to Baltimore and visit the Walters Art Gallery Saturday. It was an AMAZINGLY good day. As with any large museum, it's best taken in over several visits, and after taking in the entire medieval collection, including Byzantine, Islamic, the Migratory peoples, the Icons, the 15th and 16th century, Indian, as well as the Greek Hero and the Ancient Americas exhibits, my brain was FULL. I was disappointed that the manuscript gallery was closed, but that would warrant another trip after the New Year, perhaps with friends...;) The Byzantine and Islamic exhibits themselves were incredible,and worth the trip. To see an illuminated Koran...or a centuries-old Madonna and Child intricately etched into a section of elephant tusk...or a figurine of a Hindu god as a small child, holding balls of butter that he swiped from his mother's pantry...I was filled with wonder at having the privilege to view the examples of love, devotion, and humanity, and to think about the people who created them.

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 02:33:52 GMT

Learning to Fly
Into the distance, a ribbon of black
Stretched to the point of no turning back
A flight of fancy on a windswept field
Standing alone my senses reeled
A fatal attraction holding me fast, how
Can I escape this irresistible grasp?
Can't keep my eyes from the circling skies
Tongue-tied and twisted Just an earth-bound misfit, I
Ice is forming on the tips of my wings
Unheeded warnings, I thought I thought of everything
No navigator to guide my way home
Unladened, empty and turned to stone
A soul in tension that's learning to fly
Condition grounded but determined to try
Can't keep my eyes from the circling skies
Tongue-tied and twisted just an earth-bound misfit, I
Above the planet on a wing and a prayer,
My grubby halo, a vapour trail in the empty air,
Across the clouds I see my shadow fly
Out of the corner of my watering eye
A dream unthreatened by the morning light
Could blow this soul right through the roof of the night
There's no sensation to compare with this
Suspended animation, A state of bliss
Can't keep my eyes from the circling skies
Tongue-tied and twisted just an earth-bound misfit, I

Pink Floyd

Here we go again.

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 21:18:55 GMT

My Grandma is having a mastectomy tomorrow. I have to work
tomorrow and the weekend, so depending on how it all goes, I'll head to
Lynchburg on Friday.
I have GOT to stay healthy...
It's always interesting to trade roles...to go from being
a healthcare professional to being a patient or the family member
of a patient.
Not a fun thing, but a good lesson, nevertheless.

for those who requested

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 12:37:47 GMT

Apple Glazed Pork Loaf

1/2 cup apple jelly
1 tablespoon dijon mustard
2 small apples
2 eggs, slightly beaten
1 pound ground pork
1 medium sweet potato, chopped
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper (I used 1/4 and
it was plenty)
2 ciabatta rolls

For glaze,microcook jelly on high 30 seconds, stir, repeat.
Stir in mustard. Set aside. Core and chop one apple. Combine
eggs, pork, half of chopped apple, and 1/2 tsp each salt and pepper.
Form into 4 loaves, 6x2 inches and place on greased 15 x 10 x1 inch
pan (I used a 9x12 ). Spoon some jelly glaze over loaves. Bake 10 minutes
on preheated 425 oven. Thinly slice remaining apple. Top loaves with apple
slices and drizzle with more jelly glaze, Bake 5 minutes more or until internal temp is 160 (F)
(I cooked a little longer-about 8 more min)
In bowl microcook chopped sweet potato on HIGH 4 minutes until nearly tender. In skillet
cook potato and remaining chopped apple in oil on med high.Sprinkle with salt, pepper,
and cayenne. Cook 3 minutes or until tender. (I added a pat of butter)
Serve pork loaves on ciabatta with sweet potatoes. (I skipped the rolls) Serves 4

Recipe from Better Homes and Gardens. I made my own jelly with SureJell and apple cider
to avoid the high fructose corn syrup present in all things commercially prepared.
Easy and yummy.

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 14:39:36 GMT

Friday at work was beyond brutal. I was in charge, did staffing, had patients of my own, and supervised a student. One of my patients, an elderly lady, was pretty sick, and had kept me running all day with back to back IV meds and transfusions. At 5:30 p.m. she and another patient of mine, plus another one started going down the tubes all at the SAME TIME, with a fourth one having some kind of allergic reaction. We had 3 Rapid Response calls to the floor in rapid succession, and we got my lady to CVICU, then straight back to the OR, my gentleman to ICU, and the other person to CCU and on to the cath lab for a pacemaker. All in 2 hours.
To have 2 patients try to crash on me at the exact same time...haven't been that stressed in...hmm. Don't remember. But I didn't know if I'd see that lady again.
ANYWAY...my lady came back to me yesterday evening. At 5:30. In a wheelchair, hair all poufed, talking about how much she likes the "pretty corn." (Indian corn. Well, it IS fall.)

"I work... therefore, I brew."
Isabel Henry

Birthday weekend

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 00:26:19 GMT

I made a Southern style Red Velvet cake for Amy's birthday. She specially requested it "just like Grandma used to make". I had never successfully made the fluffy white boiled frosting as a teenager, and today I NAILED it. It turned out great.
In honor of Amy turning 21, she wanted to go to a winery, so we went today to the Hill Top Berry Farm and Winery in Nelson County, a small family owned operation that also makes MEAD.
They have an excellent lavender metheglin, and we came home with a bottle of perry for Amy and a sweet mead and the lavender metheglin for me. I'm gonna try my hand at it.
These are very nice folks, and turns out they do associate with the SCA in their spare time. They give a 10% discount on purchases if you show them your Military ID OR your SCA membership card. A win-win for me! And it was gorgeous up there.

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 18:33:31 GMT

Sometimes the Pink Ribbon for Breast Cancer Awareness just...
sets me OFF. At weird times. Like today, in the middle of
Dick's Sporting Goods. I had just picked out a pair of dance
sneakers for my Zumba class, and was looking around for something
for Amy's birthday Friday (She'll be 21.)I saw some pink and white
ladies' UnderArmour workout shirts that I thought she could wear to her job
as a gymnastics coach. I pulled one off the rack, and it had the little
pink ribbon on the front, and printed on the front was "She's a FIGHTER..."
and I lost it. I'm sure the employees were wondering why the customer
was weeping over the merchandise...it's expensive, but Jeez...
*&%$*@ PMS. (Yeah, THAT'S it.)
Miss you Mom.

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 01:38:58 GMT

I went to Ferrum today to see Sam. She had to show her original social security card to show that she's eligible to work(?), and needed some khakis to start the on campus job she just landed, so...road trip for me. The campus is gorgeous, out in the middle of nowhere Southwest Virginia. One of my favorite things is The Blue Ridge Institute on the Ferrum campus, a museum that tells the history of the old-time bluegrass music tradition along "The Crooked Road" through Franklin, Patrick, and Henry Counties. (My Granddaddy was a bluegrass musician from Patrick County.) The museum has an exhibit now called "The history of Rockabilly", which was fun. Yes, this is a young Jerry Lee Lewis.

RANT

Sat, 12 Sep 2009 03:42:58 GMT

Home from a long workday, still shaking my head in amazement at people. At work we see people all the time with medical issues that they will not or can not take care of until their situation becomes critical, and then their treatment becomes more complex, more urgent, more expensive. And we will do whatever is needed for them.Such was the case of my patient today.
But her family and her visitors were the ones that burned my biscuits. They all trooped in to the patient's room this evening, grown women with several small children, with buckets of fried chicken, and were having a picnic in my patient's room. They didn't bother with purchasing anything for the kids to drink, because they knew my patient could ring for the nurse, and demand that ice and sodas be brought in for everyone. (In our spare time.) And then, to emphasize her point, one of the women began to cough on a piece of chicken, and exclaim, "Yeah, I'm choking here...you wouldn't want THAT on your hands, now...having to do CPR, and all..."
What chaps me about it the most was that these children were learning two very disturbing lessons:
1)Get everything for free that you can, even at someone else's expense, even if you have not earned it;
2)It's okay to not take care of yourself, to do harmful things to yourself, and generally not be responsible for your health. And when things don't go well, it's the nurse's fault, your doctor's fault, society's fault. (and yes, as a nurse I have been held responsible when people disregarded instructions or treatment and did some really stupid things to themselves.)

I'm tired and cranky. Off this weekend. At this moment i'm planning to get my butt out of bed in the morning and go to JTTC. And Monday someone bravely taking charge of their health
will inspire me again.

Willow's MeeMee cause I'm an insomniac, been up for 20 hours

Thu, 03 Sep 2009 05:07:47 GMT

What time did you get up this morning?
5:00 (yesterday)

2. Diamonds or pearls?
Don't wear either. I like garnets and amber.

3.What was the last film you saw at the cinema?
I honestly don't remember. It was a long time ago.

4. What is your favorite TV show?
Mad TV.

5. What do you usually have for breakfast?
coffee, Kashi whole grain bar or fruit

6. What is your middle name?
Lynn

7. What food do you dislike?
Not many, to my chagrin...however, eggplant does not seem
to like ME.

8. What is your favorite CD at moment?
But there are so MANY...Ben Harper and Relentless Seven,
the latest stuff from Death Cab for Cutie, Derek Trucks
(that's just in the rock category. I could go on...)

9. What kind of car do you drive?
1998 Ford Windstar Van...and the pickup when I can wrest it
away from David.

10. Favorite sandwich?
Granny Smith apple on brie, grilled, with onion chutney.

11. What characteristic do you despise?
back-biting, two-facedness.

12. Favorite item of clothing?
Black cotton/spandex and lace short nightie

13. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go?
I want to ride the Caledonia sleeper train from London to Aberdeen, Scotland.

14. Favorite brand of clothing?
Don't care.

15. Where would you retire to?
My screened back porch and herb garden.

16. What was your most memorable birthday?
At MY age, I can barely remember the last one.

17. What is your favorite sport to watch?
Women's basketball.

18. Furthest place you are sending this?
Where is LJ based? Out went somewhere?

19. Person you expect to send it back first?
I have no expectations tonight. It's one a.m.

20. When is your birthday?
January 5

21. Are you a morning person or a night person?
It varies hugely.

23. Pets?
3 sweet mutts

24. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share with us?
I'm learning Rapier. Ooooohh!
I'm teaching a History of Ale class! Ohhhh!
My kid's Jeep is fixed. No more carpooling for a while. Yaayyyy!

25. What did you want to be when you grow up?
An actress

26. How are you today?
Very no-drama, actually.

27. What is your favorite candy?
Hershey with almonds.

28. What is your favorite flower?
an Iris. They are SO sensual.

29. What is a day on the calendar you are looking forward to?
Saturday will be good. I'm off.

30. What are you listening to right now?
It's QUIET. Everyones asleep. No phones, no call bells, no pages, no IV pumps.

31. What was the last thing you ate?
Stoneyfield Farms' O'Soy chocolate yogurt.

32. Do you wish on stars?
Nah.

33. If you were a crayon, what color would you be?
magenta

34. How is the weather right now?
Dark. Cool.

35. The first person you spoke to on the phone today?
the Pharmacy.

36. Favorite soft drink?
Ginger Beer

37. Favorite restaurant?
That Indian restaurant in Lynchburg.

38. Real hair color?
Brown.

39. What was your favorite toy as a child?
My record player.

40. Summer or winter?
Mostly I like the ushering in a new season.
Usually happy for a change of pace.

41. Hugs or kisses?
I hafta choose?

42. Chocolate or Vanilla?
chocolate

43. coffee or tea?
Both

44. Do you want your friends to email you back?
Not about THIS, but a "Hi" is always welcome.

45. When was the last time you cried?
Last week sometime.

46. What is under your bed?
Books and shoes. And probably a boogeyman. He's a sound sleeper.

47. What did you do last night?
Went to fighter practice, and chatted.

48. What are you afraid of?
Diabetic complications, having breast cancer like my Mom and
Grandma, Alzheimers

49. Salty or sweet?
sweet

50. How many keys on your key ring?
about 8

51. How many years at your current job?
13 years

52. Favorite day of the week?
No preference, they change from week to week.

53. How many towns have you lived in?
A lot.

54. Do you make friends easily?
Yes

55. How many people will you send this to?
It's right here for anyone caring to read

56. How many will respond?
No idea.

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 22:42:53 GMT

She's MOBILE!
I was chauffeured around today while we shopped for
school items. Up and down Midlothian Turnpike.
(Time to buy hair color...)
Lived to tell the tale, and the parking is getting
BETTER. She "stuck the landing" at Wal Mart, and was
very pleased.
She's heading back to school Sunday. I've enjoyed
having her around this summer.

Sat, 22 Aug 2009 00:31:20 GMT

Me again. A two 'fer.

I just got a phone call from my brother.
My Grandma has breast cancer.
The same breast cancer that killed
her daughter (my Mom) at age 61.

I want this to STOP.

Fri, 21 Aug 2009 14:51:41 GMT

Just some ramblings, since I haven't posted in forever...(or pre-Pennsic)
Seems I have a new alarm clock. For the past 2 days we've been awakened at
5 a.m. sharp by a barking, snarling, yapping dog ruckus between our Lucy and
some neighbor's little yap dog who is let out and decides to come to our front porch
for a heated exchange on either side of our front door. Our Missy is deaf and no longer cares
about who is at the door. Lancelot will bark if someone comes to the door, but is a chicken
("Lancelot the Not-So-Brave"), and barks and hides...so IT'S ON between Yapper and Lucy,
with her deep, ferocious ROWWF. 1st wake-up call I had to get up in half an hour to go work a 12-hour shift,
and the 2nd....well, I was off, and COULD have slept later. I'm thinking of sleeping on the futon tonight so
Lucy and I can meet Yapper in the morning, find out where he lives...entertaining evil thoughts of letting
Lucy "escort" the little beast home ;

Pennsic was good, overall, once I got past leaking tent , soggy ground, and swamp feet. Camp Mates
were wonderful. Took classes in Thrown Weapons, gardening, and drumming, and did the usual 2 hours-
a-day Known World Choir rehearsals for a concert on War Week Thursday. For once I wished for a little more
time to see everyone and do everything I wanted to.

Fri, 24 Jul 2009 03:14:46 GMT

Samantha is 19 today.
She did an amazing thing the other day.
A true example of "What goes around comes around."
One of Sam's friends' parents has been
extraordinarily good to her, sending her
goodie boxes while she is away at school, and things
like that. The sad day came on Tuesday for the
friend's family dog to be put to sleep, as she
was blind, deaf, and had suffered a stroke. The
vet was coming to the house, and the family
asked for Sam and another friend Sara to
come. The family and friends gathered around the
disoriented little dog so she wouldn't feel alone...
then afterward Samantha carried the body to the
vet's car for the family.
As Sam told me this story, I had this incredible
moment of having succeeded in raising a caring,
helpful human being.
Happy Birthday.
Love, Mom

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 01:28:38 GMT

I took a group on a day trip to the National Gallery in Washington D.C. to see "Heaven
on Earth", a medieval illuminated manuscript exhibit. It was a wonderful exhibit, and a
must-see for anyone interested in calligraphy and illumination. It runs through August 2.
We took the Metro in to the city. (I love riding the train. )
We had such a blast that I think we might do more field trips on a regular basis.

Writer's Block: Le Quatorze Juillet

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 15:34:24 GMT

Happy Bastille Day! Today the French celebrate the event that sparked the French revolution. In honor of our Francophone friends, what is your favorite French thing? Bonus points for answers en français.

View 503 Answers

est-ce qu'oh, je dois choisir ? Cuisson ? amis ? ou amour ?

Hymm to Ninkasi (for Bryce)

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 03:52:50 GMT

For all who are passionate about beer.

The Hymn to Ninkasi
(inscribed on a nineteenth-century B.C. tablet, contains a recipe for Sumerian beer.)
The earliest known record of beer brewing.
"Bappir" is a barley bread that was used as the source of the yeast.

Translation by Miguel Civil

Borne of the flowing water (...)
Tenderly cared for by the Ninhursag,
Borne of the flowing water (...)
Tenderly cared for by the Ninhursag,

Having founded your town by the sacred lake,
She finished its great walls for you,
Ninkasi, having founded your town by the sacred lake,
She finished its great walls for you

Your father is Enki, Lord Nidimmud,
Your mother is Ninti, the queen of the sacred lake,
Ninkasi, Your father is Enki, Lord Nidimmud,
Your mother is Ninti, the queen of the sacred lake.

You are the one who handles the dough,
[and] with a big shovel,
Mixing in a pit, the bappir with sweet aromatics,
Ninkasi, You are the one who handles
the dough, [and] with a big shovel,
Mixing in a pit, the bappir with [date]-honey.

You are the one who bakes the bappir
in the big oven,
Puts in order the piles of hulled grains,
Ninkasi, you are the one who bakes
the bappir in the big oven,
Puts in order the piles of hulled grains,

You are the one who waters the malt
set on the ground,
The noble dogs keep away even the potentates,
Ninkasi, you are the one who waters the malt
set on the ground,
The noble dogs keep away even the potentates.

You are the one who soaks the malt in a jar
The waves rise, the waves fall.
Ninkasi, you are the one who soaks
the malt in a jar
The waves rise, the waves fall.

You are the one who spreads the cooked
mash on large reed mats,
Coolness overcomes.
Ninkasi, you are the one who spreads
the cooked mash on large reed mats,
Coolness overcomes.

You are the one who holds with both hands
the great sweet wort,
Brewing [it] with honey and wine
(You the sweet wort to the vessel)
Ninkasi, (...)
(You the sweet wort to the vessel)

The filtering vat, which makes
a pleasant sound,
You place appropriately on [top of]
a large collector vat.
Ninkasi, the filtering vat,
which makes a pleasant sound,
You place appropriately on [top of]
a large collector vat.

When you pour out the filtered beer
of the collector vat,
It is [like] the onrush of
Tigris and Euphrates.
Ninkasi, you are the one who pours out the
filtered beer of the collector vat,
It is [like] the onrush of
Tigris and Euphrates.

Gracious permission from: "Copyright J.A. Black, G. Cunningham, E. Robson, and G. Zlyomi 1998, 1999, 2000. The authors have asserted their moral rights." Scholarly Versions at their Home Page The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature, Oxford University,

Summer War (July 4) weekend

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 03:34:00 GMT

The weekend had happiness and sadness, as does all of life. On Friday
as I was pulling out to go to Summer War we received word that the nephew
of my in-laws passed away suddenly in North Carolina. Brandon
was 24. We watched him grow up from a sweet child to a talented young
craftsman who remodeled and upgraded my mother-in-laws' bathrooms when he
was around 17 or 18. He and Amy were close for awhile, (and he drove
us batty with phone calls back then.) He complained to his mother late last week that he just didn't feel well, and she asked him if he was coming down with the flu...and then he was gone.
My love and condolences go to the Patrick family, who have already been through a LOT of tragedy over the years. And again, I say, "Live FULLY, because you just never know..."

So a nice, laid-back, cozy event was a good and timely thing, and I enjoyed hanging out with old and new friends (and LITTLE kids.) I ate and drank REALLY well, and got to share some of my goodies with others. Amy brought her friend Katie out for the first time. (I looked out across the field, and SURPRISE! There they were, in garb.)Katie wanted to know about the fire dancing/breathing thing (Poi? Koi? Whatever.) and there was a merchant on site who was happy to give her some pointers, as well as show me how to finally wrap a linen headcovering and it not slide around and make me crazy.
I was laughing at Tracy's comment about me being Caer Mear's own version of
Friar Tuck (that is funny) and we were admiring Elizabeth the Tender Hearted's new tent
when I stepped into a stump-hole and ungracefully crashed to the ground.My wrists and forearms reverberated for a couple of minutes, but happily, no injury.Fortunately the Baron
got the press with his spectacular dive out of the hammock ;) Hope His Excellency is feeling
okay today.
My car with the "quirky" electrical system (poltergeist that causes lights to flash on and off and the car locks to go up and down at random) decided it didn't want to be moved from the woods area, but responded well to a jump start, and is behaving itself...for now.
It was good. Thanks everyone.

Nathan

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 02:10:22 GMT

My boy will be 17 on Friday.
He got into a little trouble, so he's
spent part of the summer grounded and getting
himself together. We made him get a haircut.
We're all amazed.
What a handsome guy.

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 18:17:09 GMT

Reading Rumi (1207-1273) while I'm home sick...

LET GO ALL your scheming, lover
let yourself go mad
go mad
just step into the heart of fire
make yourself a moth
a moth
Turn yourself into a stranger
raze your house down to the ground
then come stand here under one roof
beneath the same roof
and live among the lovers.
Scrape your breast, like a plate,
clean of envy, with cascades of water
then fill up like a chalice,
like a chalice
with the wine of love
Metamorphose purely into soul
make yourself worthy of the Soulmate
If you're going to see the drunkards
walk tipsy
with inebriation
Like a model
your earring pendant dangles
brushing intimate against your cheek
incline that cheek and ear
to the Mother Pearl
that Precious Pearl
As your spirit rises in the air
from the sweetness of our tale
efface yourself and like the lovers
be a legend
legendary

wicked funny

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 15:42:58 GMT

Obama Drastically Scales Back Goals For America After Visiting Denny's

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 11:17:57 GMT

I'm in class this week to go for ACLS certification. (Advanced Cardiac Life Support)
Long time coming, "codes" are definitely not my strong suit. I'll feel better about
getting some of these skills solidly under my belt. Back to my CD to review these
algorhithms...