Like Mother, Like Daughter

People have always commented on how much I look like my mom.  When I was younger, I never could see the resemblance, but now sometimes when I look in the mirror, I see my mom's reflection staring back at me.  Kind of creepy actually. 

While looking through family photos, I came across this photo of us in the exact same pose.



Photo circa 1991.
Who's Who?



Safety Quiz

Below is just a glimpse into the brain of the kinds of kids I work with.  This particular patient was given the assignment from his school to complete a Safety Quiz for a few common household objects.  You or I would have much different responses.  A full commentary is not necessary for the quiz speaks for itself.

Blessed

Merry Christmas!  I mean that sincerely this year.  Most years when I am scheduled to work, the phrase becomes, "Merry Fucking Christmas", but this year it sincerely is a Merry one.

Even though I was scheduled to work the entire Christmas holiday from the two days prior, the days of, and three days post, I had a very enjoyable and fulfilling holiday.  We only have two kids at work on Christmas, which is both a good thing and a bad thing.  Two kids is better than ten meaning that most kids were home with their families where they belong.  Two kids could also lead to the dreaded floating to other floors or the blessed getting a no-pay-day.  Neither of which happened for me which meant I got to remain on the unit, with the kids I know so well, and with coworkers who are my second family.

My personal family celebrations went fine and dandy.  Some usual family drama, but a generally uneventful gathering.  For me, this year, my favorite time was spent at work and watching the two kids open up their gifts with sincere excitement and appreciation was so....fulfilling.

One little girl is 7 years old, wears the badge of abuse on her forehead by the hands of her own mother, and is in the process of being removed from her family.  The other patient is a 17 year old boy who still believes in Santa Claus and will not be returning home to his alcoholic mother after discharge.  Both opened up their meager gifts with such gusto and innocence.  As the little girl was putting on her costume jewelry and tiara, she looked up to the empty air and said, "Merry Christmas, Mama".  The three of us staff who witnessed this scene exchanged sympathetic glances at one another and quietly wiped the tears forming in our eyes.

Yes, this year I felt very fortunate to be at work.  Very fortunate to be a part of what was an otherwise unfortunate Christmas for those kids.  Very fortunate I could help make it a little more special and memorable for them.  Very fortunate indeed.

Devil or Angel?

Another snowfall, another night time winter wonderland walk for me.  Walking around the neighborhood, at night, after a snowfall is breathtaking.  Its hard not to be mesmerized by the light of the ambien glow and from the glow of  the Christmas lights.  Except for the hum of distant snowblowers and the occasional brave car, there is just a peaceful blanket of quiet in the air.  Straight from a scene out of "Its a Wonderful Life" (well, without the contemplative suicide).

The whole neighborhood is outside for the common purpose of digging out from underneath the paralyzing snow.  If you are lucky, you have what I call a "neighborhood snow angel" and I don't mean the kind you make while laying down in the snow.  Its the neighbor with the snowblower who decides to go above and beyond by blowing out the entire block.

My neighbor is wearing only half a halo and half of his wings.  He decided to blow out himself and only half of the block.  My house sits in the middle of the block, and wouldn't ya know it, he stopped right before my portion of the block.  I shouldn't complain too much as I AM able bodied and my immediate next door neighbor happens to be a very old single lady.  She deserves to be assisted, but dang, that's like losing the championship game by one lousy point.

Sigh.

Bitchin' Immunity

Is it so wrong for me to be jealous of my friend's who are home sick?  (And by that I mean those who are home from work sick, not those who are missing their home.)  I want to be sick too, dammit!  Only, I want to be sick on My Terms.  Translated, that means, "sick on my days to go to work".  That way I can call in legitimately ill, lay on the couch (or bed) all day, and rest.  Oh, yeah, and get paid for it.  Since my sick hours are once again maxed out, I am not earning any more sick time. 

Friday I spent almost 12 hours with a now-sick-friend.  Most of which were spent in a tightly enclosed space; my car.  We shared the same air almost all day long and sucked on the same beverage straw.  After she informed me she was getting ill, I secretly hoped I would get ill too.  It just doesn't happen.

Kind of like when I was a kid and my mom exposed me to all the neighborhood kids who acquired chicken pox.  I never caught them, and have yet to experience the chicken pox.  Thankfully I have the vaccine now, because adult chicken pox could be deadly.

I better be careful what I wish for.  I could end up with adult chicken pox on my days off.  That would totally suck.  Instead, I'll settle for a stuffy nose on a work day, thank you very much.

Elf-Stravaganza!

Tomorrow I am hosting my annual Elf night.  It is when the Christmas season officially begins.  Ever since seeing the movie Elf in the theater, my friends and I have watched it together every year.  The party keeps growing and it is possibly my most anticipated night of the year.  This year, I welcome a newcomer to Elf Night.  Hopefully she won't be scared off by my baking talents.

Rarely do I get the opportunity to bake or cook for more than just me.  Whenever opportunity knocks, I get a little bit excited....and a little bit nervous.  A lot of sugary goodness is on the menu for tomorrow night, and I started my prep work tonight.

Several months ago, I had a hankering for Angel Food Cake and picked up a cake mix only to come home to find I didn't have the appropriate pan but rather I had a bundt cake pan.  Years ago I did attempt to defy all odds and create the perfect Angel Food cake in a bundt cake pan which only resulted in an overflowing mess in my oven.  Lesson Learned.  So I shelved that box of recently purchased cake mix and waited until my Birthday wish for an Angel Food Cake pan was granted.

Since Strawberry Shortcake is on the menu for tomorrow, I thought it would be a perfect time to break in my new pan and make that cake.  All was going grand until it was time for the cake to come out of the oven.  I didn't have the recommended glass bottle in which to place the pan upside down upon so I used a long stemmed goblet.  All would have been fine had the balance not shifted resulting in the pan, and cake, fumbling to the floor.  Quickly I picked up the cake, rescuing it from doom.

Once it cooled, I removed the cake from the pan only to find a very lopsided delicacy.  

I should have my guests sign a waiver:
"Not responsible for choking on cat hair".


My friend said it perfectly when she said, "I'm pretty sure it will still taste delicious! Elf ate gum off of hand railings so a little cat hair Angel Food Cake will be just fine!" 

I'm glad she thinks so since I won't be making another one, and this one will be served along with some exploded mini molten lava cakes.

No special effects were involved in taking this photo.

These will also be served.  They taste delicious!  I should know, I had to eat the "mistakes" though you wouldn't know that only survivors are left.  They all look like mistakes to me.

I'm hoping that the attendees of my Elf party read this blog after Elf has been watched and the horrible food consumed.  One final photo illustrates the challenges of baking in a tiny kitchen with three nosy cats about.  And why I really hope you read this after our party.


I promise she did NOT lick the cake.  For real.



Wisconsin's Pit

The Armpit of Wisconsin is a phrase not-so-affectionately given to my neighboring city of Superior.  While dining at a little family owned diner in Superior, the patrons eating in the booths nearby my table pretty much illustrated that phrase To. A. Tee.

Sitting in a corner booth in the direct line of my vision sat a middle aged guy all by himself.  Although, he did not appear all that lonely.  He sat reading the Sunday Comics laughing audibly from time to time searching the crowd's faces for some recognition of why he was laughing.  As though we were all reading the same comic strip at the same time as he was.   Though it was a warm day by winter in Minnesota/Wisconsin standards (in the 30's), he was wearing just a tee-shirt and shorts.  We made eye contact from time to time, and he may or may not have wanted to get in my pants. 

Sitting directly behind me dined a pair of women with deep smoker's voices.  At various intervals throughout the meal, one of the ladies began singing "Silent Night" loud enough to be heard throughout the entire restaurant.  Her deep throaty, out of tune voice serenaded all of us as we chowed down our lunches.  She had to have started singing no less than 10 times during the hour I spent there. 

Between the laughing Comic Strip Guy and the Smoker's Voice Singing Woman, I have concluded that people living in the Armpit of Wisconsin are at least crazy happy little residents.