Spring has sprung..

Ah, that title is part of a haiku that I wrote in the fourth or fifth grade. It cracks me up every time I think about it. Spring is officially almost here. There were ducks in the pool of water that collects beside out house. Thank you builders for taking away the creek and leaving an eye sore by our house when it rains! I thought I would miss the winter, or at least my winter wardrobe, but after spending my day looking at some new fashion magazines that were delivered this week, I say bring on the ducks and warm weather!

I'm going to start spring cleaning this week. I love that when I decide to spring clean the temperature outside suddenly plummets. Oh well, it needs to be done. I'm excited about a lot of things that the spring will bring, cupcakes and fried okra for my birthday, vacation, my garden, my mom's garden, flea market trips, and bare legs to name a few.

I'm glad I have most of the week off. I just got off a three in a row work week and let me tell you, though my mind didn't feel overly tired, my feet told me that I had been on them far too much in the past 72 hours. So, last night, when I got home, I popped some Tylenol pm and drifted soundly to sleep, which didn't end until 11:15 this morning.

I'm excited about the week to come. Here's past news from last week that I didn't share with you guys.

• I met another Nola. I have never (besides my great-grandmother) met someone with my name. This definitely made me happy.
• I have a couple of things that are weighing heavy on my mind. I'll post more about it when I'm not so tired. They are actually positive things that are hard choices. I need to have lunch with my friend, Lori. If you are reading this, email or call me! She's a slightly older and wiser version of me. It's like going to my future self and asking what I think.
• One of my patients thought she had miscarried. I told her to stay positive and then said silent prayers and kept checking for her blood work until it showed, she was, in fact, still pregnant. I then let out my held breath. It was a good day to be a nurse. It made my biological clock start ticking. I actually talked to her about it. She kind of felt like a friend when she left.
• I watch American Idol. There, I said it. America, what is wrong with you? I guess I shouldn't complain, since I didn't vote.
• I heard "Imma Be" about a zillion times this week. I'm not going to lie. I love it! It makes me want to dance. It's a definite add to my cleaning or exercise play list, which I plan on making this week. Ah, another little known fact about me, I love to clean to heavy music. My love of Sevendust, Pantera, and Killswitch Engage really comes out. I really scrub during angry music!

I have another way of unveiling the week besides these little bullet points. I'm going to unveil it next week. I'm super excited about it. Now, I must focus my attention on my unread Google account, which has 300 entries. So, happy reading to me!

You oughta know

Since I divulged my wonderland in the last post, I figure, I might as well give it all up to you. Don't you feel special? Actually, I saw another post and thought that it seemed kind of fun. There should be no secrets among friends, right?

25 Things You May or May Not Know About Me

1. My favorite color as a child was yellow, not because I loved it, though I did like it, but because I felt sorry for yellow because most of my friends did not like it. Everyone deserves to be a favorite. Yellow and I now have an open relationship, so I'm quit smitten with green too.
2. I used to write a mean poem. I mean, most of it was angry, but I'm very proud of it. I think it's quite good for a teenager. Maybe I'll post one some day. You'll probably stare at the screen, blinking, while thinking, "How messed up was she?" That road brought me to here.
3. Speaking of poetry, I do not like rhyming poetry type cards. Trying too hard, much? It actually does the opposite for me and seems heartless. I wish there were more cards out there that just stated things like "You are a Rockstar", "You Got This Man", "I'm happy you were born", etc, etc. Straight to the point, yet totally shows how much you mean to a person. I wish Hallmark would take some notes.
4. I cry at everything. I mean, I can barely watch anything with a personal or tragic story without bawling. You should see me watch Biggest Loser. It is not pretty. I'm an ugly crier too. When I watched "Monster's Ball" I was almost hyperventilating. Aaron was trying to calm me down. Halle Berry SO deserved that Oscar.
5. In the 7th grade, I had signs posted on my bedroom door that stated things like, "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle", "Conserve water", and "Only you can prevent forest fires". I would argue with my dad about how we were going to run out of water. He told me that I was a dumb ass (Nice, huh?). We just watched the documentary Water Wars. Daddy, Daddy, Daddy. I was a smart twelve year old. I don't know why I forgot about this passion, but it's coming back, thus the expansion of recycling and concern about food. I need some poster board and markers to hang some signs on my door.
6. I've lost many loves in my life. Shannon Hoon, River Phoenix, and Kurt Cobain to name a few. Of course, it was one-sided love. I was going to marry Shannon Hoon. Mr. O is lucky that tragedy struck.
7. For my third birthday party, I couldn't decide between Spiderman and Strawberry Shortcake, so my birthday party was done in both. I think that birthday shows my balance between between male and female, though I tend to teeter toward girly things now. I will never play sports either. That's for you, Mr. O.
8. I sit and read through cookbooks like they are actual story books. I also have like 60 and this is after getting rid of some at our last garage sale.
9. I really want to play the guitar. I've taken lessons from my cousin before and it really didn't work out. This is a goal that I will one day accomplish. My brother can play the guitar and drums by ear and it kills me. I must have a musical bone somewhere in my body, if he is that talented. We have DNA in common!
10. For the first time in years, I appreciate my body. It has something to do with my 30s. I'm telling you, something happens when you cross that threshold. I will own my bathing suit this year.
11. I buy a lot of books, but never getting around to reading them. One day I will though. I already have books for my child that isn't even born yet.
12. In the fourth or fifth grade there was a writing contest at my school and you had to write and make a book, including illustrations. I wrote about a serial killer who used nursery rhymes as the set up for his crime scenes. Yes, my book had dead bodies. I was obsessed with Nancy Drew, the television show Hunter, and Stephen King books. Needless to say, I did not win. I'm surprised that I didn't have to go to counseling.
13. When I played with my Barbies, Ken and Barbie were always boyfriend and girlfriend. They were never married. Ken got kicked out of Barbie's house (yes, she owned the house) all the time.
14. One of my fondest memories of my entire life is staying up until 3:00 A.M. one night with my grandmother playing Super Mario Brothers. It makes my heart swell.
15. I am named after my great-grandmother, Eva Nola. If Aaron and I have a daughter, she will be named and called Nola. It really is a beautiful and unique name. I already have nicknames that I can call her too. My mom still calls me Nolie. My grandmother called me Nola Rissa Ray and Nola Nay.
16. My shoe infatuation started because my mother bought me jellies in every single color. I probably had 20 pairs of shoes at 8 years old. See, it's not my fault! Every girl needs options.
17. On my first date with Aaron, I fell asleep with my head on his shoulder on the way home. Now, it may of had something to do with alcohol, but I felt like I had known him for years after one night. He is also the only guy I kissed on the first date.
18. I am obsessed with binders. I have a decorating binder, a fashion binder, a binder with sections for household tips, party decorating, and takeout menus, and multiple recipe binders.
19. I had an imaginary friend named Mrs. Nobody when I was around three years old. I vividly remember opening the door at my bio dad's house and telling her goodbye and then telling everyone that her kids needed her, so she had to go. I could not make this stuff up. Children's minds are fascinating.
20. When Aaron and I met, I had changed my major from pre-med and was studying biology with the plans to go on and do forensics. I told you I loved a good mystery and detective story!
21. I really wish I could hip-hop dance. All that popping and locking is amazing! Instead, I watch So You Think You Can Dance and dream.
22. I love foreign films. If you like them, check out He loves me, He loves me not, The Princess and the Warrior, and Run Lola Run. I love Amelie too, but I'm sure most of you have seen it.
23. I set my alarm clock at weird times. I always have as far back as I can remember. You may find me getting up at 4:12, 6:28 or 8:36. Don't ask, but I'd rather get up at one of those times instead of 4:15, 6:30 or 8:45.
24. I know I have said that I have a great memory, but you may not know that I hold on to some of the most random things, like the Gettysburg Address from when I was 10 years old. Fore score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth upon this continent a new nation conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. I'm not sure if it's exactly right, but that's still in my head. Also, for having a good memory, I don't remember movies, even the ones that I've seen a million times. I can not quote them to you like some people can. That may be why I like watching movies over and over again. They don't get old when you don't really remember them.
25. I love antiques. I can spend hours in antique stores. I think it's because I used to go with my grandmother to work (she worked at antique store). I walked around all day and each time around I would discover something new that I hadn't seen before.

I'm not an addict (maybe that's a lie)

Yes, I'm fond (*cough* addicted) to many things, kitchen items, cooking, recipes, learning new things, horror films and playing scrabble to name a few. You've all seen my many posts on thrifting. If you saw my google reader account, you would see my numerous subscriptions to fashion blogs. I'm not afraid to admit that I'm addicted to everything about fashion. I love purses, shoes, belts, jewelry, and, my most favorite, clothes. I seriously have a problem. The good thing is that I'm thrifty, so they do not always cost an arm and a leg, but if you had a combined total...I don't even want to know. Suddenly, I feel sick.

I don't think you can get the real magnitude of the situation until you have seen my closet. One day I'm afraid I will walk into my bedroom to see all my clothes spewed out of the closet. It's borderline at capacity. It's getting ridiculous. I'm seriously thinking of kicking Aaron out, even though, I take up most of it anyway.

Next week, I'm planning on tackling my closet. It's spring cleaning week in the O house! I'm trying to do it objectively and to really thin it out; however, I'm not going to get rid of pieces that I know I'm going to wear or that I will regret. I just have to keep in mind that the money at a garage sale that I can make off my clothing will equal more fun in Florida for us.

So, to really get the point across, I'm posting pictures of my closet, which is one of my most intimate spaces. Before you judge the shear magnitude of my problem, notice that the right side is color-coded and in order of longest sleeve length to shortest and longest skirt/shorts to shortest skirt/shorts. The left-side is done from longest-sleeve length dresses to no sleeve dresses, middle is scrubs, and my pants are color-coded too. If it doesn't look that bad to you, keep in mind that those shoes on the right go three rows deep and I have some stacked two or three high. I have small feet, so I can get away with it! Plus, you can't see my belts or the stack lying outside of the closet door. Nor are you aware that I have clothing in the dryer while I type. I don't think the pictures make it seem that bad at all. You should step inside. It's like being the shruken version of Alice. My closet is my wonderland.

Yes, I am accountable

I thought it was time for a recap of my goals for the year. I think an update here and there is the only way to keep myself accountable for them. I'm actually impressed with my progress. Most of it has seemed to come without much effort. As I tried to tell Mr. O, I truly believe in positive thinking and "putting things out" in the universe. There are too many coincidences, if you will, for me not to believe it. It's really an amazing place to live and breathe. Okay, stop rolling your eyes and take another look at the goals.

Goal #1: Run at least one 5k with my husband. Okay, no we haven't ran a 5k yet, but we have started walking our neighborhood again. We have a 2+ mile loop that we used to walk and jog multiple times a week. It feels good to get back to this. We were going to run a 5k this month, but, unfortunately, I now have to work. There will be one soon. Hopefully, before summer takes hold of Tennessee.

Goal #2: Read at least 25 books this year. Well, this is one goal that has kind of stalled. I've still only read the two books from January. I've been trying to read a book that someone lent me for over a month. I'm just not that into it. I hate starting a book and then stopping it. I have stopped mid book or even 100 pages from the end (Shout out to Twilight). I think I may just pick another book. I'm in a reading mood today, actually. I may catch some rays on the deck this afternoon and read. I need some vitamin D too. Have you been outside? It's amazing!

Goal #3: Be a more healthy me. If any of my goals are going to be completely accomplished, it will definitely be this one. I've switched over to mostly organic food. Aaron and I have started walking again. I've been avoiding fast food like the plague. I've lost 5 pounds. Unfortunately, it's in my boobs. Sorry, Mr. O. I've been making healthier choices, like organic yogurt with granola, fresh veggies, tons of fruit, hummus and veggie wraps, and salad after salad. It has been delicious. I feel awesome. This one is easy to keep up.

Goal #4: Expand our recycling. Check. I'm actually going to go buy some bins today. I have some rinsed cans sitting on my counter awaiting a new home. I've decided to do cans and plastic. So, I'm officially recycling plastic, paper, cardboard and cans. The funny thing is our trash collection company is now offering a recycling bin. I was so excited when I saw this, but after a discussion with Mr. O, I think I'll save the $8 a month and drive 5 miles down the road to the recycling drop off and get a little extra exercise in at the same time.

Goal #5: Keep up with blogging. Today is post number 25, which is the total number of posts of last year. Woot! I'm definitely keeping up.

Goal #6: Take a vacation more than once. One vacation planned! We are going on a trip with my family to Grayton Beach, Florida at the end of the summer! I am so stoked about it. Aaron and I are going to go to Atlanta one weekend too. Right now, I've been working almost every weekend. I hate it, but for now it's what I have to do. One day I won't be the nurse at the bottom of the totem pole. That's two trips, my friends. I hope there are more too.

Goal #7: See my family more. I'm making time for this. I went to see my sister's new house on a Thursday night. I figure now that I'm working a lot of weekends, then I have to make more of effort during the week. It's not always feasible for them, but when it is, I plan on going to see them. I saw my mom this weekend and Aaron's sister came over and hung out most of the day with us on Saturday. I love my family.

Goal #8: To not be so hard on myself. Okay, this one is a work in progress. I did tell myself to get over myself not to long ago. Now that might sound harsh, but I actually was being hard on myself, so it was kind of like telling myself to knock it off. I am trying to stay aware of this one, so that I can stop before I make myself feel completely bad about something. This one is by far the hardest goal for me.

Goal #9: To give more to others. I'm working on this one too. I think I am already a giving person, so this one might be the easiest goal, but I'm going to figure out a way to make it more of a goal. I already do some things, so to count them toward the goal really isn't right. I'll figure out how this one will pan out. I still have 10 months to find the solution.

The truth hurts

I felt really badly about what I typed in my last post. As soon as I posted it, I came up with points that would make someone coming into the ER with a stomach bug okay. As for instance, they don't have insurance, are a scared mother over a child, or blacked out (um, syncope for the experts out there) at some point. So, I got it off my chest, but now I take some of it back.

I really need to work on my guilt trips on myself. Geez, give it a rest already. I'm pretty sure I was probably a 1 year old thinking in my head, "You peed in your diaper again. Way to go, genius!" It's seriously that bad.

Today was a good day. I had lunch with some lovely lady friends. I went to a couple of Goodwills in search of some plates and a piece of artwork or frame to add to my collage. Score on the artwork! I found a perfect round wooden frame with a bird painting/drawing in it. I'm going to post the collage soon. All it lacks is the art project that I still need to finish and figure out. Wow, look who's crafty!

Several odd things happened, in particular order:

• A creepy guy at the Farmer's Market was staring at me the entire time he sat beside our table. I mean, blatantly staring me up and down. It was creepy. I was glad when he finished his food and left.
• A teen-aged boy driving through our neighborhood was blasting a rap song that said bitch at least three times as he drove by me. I see why no girlfriend was present in his passenger seat. His parents must be so proud!
• I saw a microwave cookbook today. I mean, seriously. A cookbook on how to microwave. What is the world coming to? I could feel the embarrassment oozing from the book as it was surrounded by books where actual cooking was involved.

Ani Difranco is tomorrow! I'm so freaking excited. That might be my next post! Until tomorrow, lovelies!

These are the days of my life

I don't write things about work here very often. You know, HIPPA and all those rules and regulations. I will say that last night in the ER we earned every cent of what we get paid. It was the busiest day to date, I think. It wasn't the usual, cough and congestion, I think I have the flu, or I've been throwing up for two hours.* Our patients were sick, really sick. We ran out of rooms after opening up our two fast-track areas, which is where we usually send the less sick people and we usually only open one of the two, which hold an extra 8 rooms. Not to mention, they made rooms out of places that weren't rooms and had people in the hallways. We actually had to call someone else in to help us. When I left around 3:30 AM, thirty minutes later than I was supposed to, we finally had a few open rooms. I actually said a prayer for my co-workers as I was driving home. I have never been so tired. When I got home, I crawled into my bed, pulled the cover of my head, and slept and slept some more.

In other news, worked on my fitness today. Aaron and I went walking around our neighborhood. It felt great! I see more of that in our future. After our walk, I made Yakisoba. It was delicious! It's definitely a repeat recipe. I have so many repeat recipes that I don't repeat them until at least a month has gone by (<---grammar error). I prefer it that way though.

Now, while the rest of the house is sleeping, I am catching up on Oprah, Hoarders, and Dr. Oz. Oh, and some magazines and updating my calendar, my fashion binder, and my decorating binder. Good grief, I am a dork. I don't deny it though.

Tomorrow holds some exciting things: a gyenecologist appointment, a Publix trip, a recycling drop-off, and a Wal-Mart trip. I know, I can hardly contain my excitment.

*Sidenote-I don't understand why people come into an emergency room after only vomiting a few times or for having a cold. There isn't much we can do besides give you fluids and some nausea medicine, that may or may not work or tell you to take over the counter cough syrup. I've probably told you at one time or another about having the flu when I was 15 years old. I vomited multiple times, had diarrhea, a fever of 104.5, and became so weak that I couldn't even walk to the bathroom, I had to crawl. I lost 12 pounds and was almost hospitalized after my mom finally took me to the doctor after a week. Now, I'm not saying wait until this point, especially if it's a child or an elderly person, but it's ridiculous to come to the emergency room after having a cough for a day or throwing up two times. Seriously. Of course, if it's associated with a lot of pain or you just feel like something is really wrong, then come in, but just know that I am way nicer than a lot of the other nurses, and even I have a hard time having sympathy for these patients. All I'm saying is that our grandparents and ancestors are saying, "Suck it up, you pansy-@ssed, spoiled brats. You're going to live."

Grammar and things to come

My wonderful husband (and grammar Nazi) informed me that one of my last entries had a couple of grammatical errors. I decided that I should let me readers know that I type this exactly as it comes into my mind and as if I were talking to you one on one, and sometimes I type it quickly and late at night, so errors will occur. In fact, I catch myself adding too many commas (I love commas!), typing has as as or won as one (um, yes I know the difference!) and using prepositions at the end of the a sentence (Shut yo' mouth!), but I don't really care. I know the rules, but I'm not bound by them. In fact, here in this space, it's my rules and only my rules, so advert your eyes and put away your red pens, my dear readers. In the words of a famous cartoon, "I do what I want."

In other news, March is looming on the horizon. It's already filling up with fun things. Here's what I have to look forward to, so far:

. a friend's band playing .

. Ani Difranco concert, if you don't know who she is, look her up, I heart her .

. eight straight days off from work, if I don't get called in .

. date night this weekend .

. Alice in Wonderland. I heart Johnny Depp .

. another girl's night out .

. a gynecologist appointment. Yes, I'm joking about this one .

. lunch with several lady friends .

. a flea market trip .

Can I get a woot! I'm starting to get really sleepy, so that's all that I can think of without going to get my planner. I love forcing myself to stay up, due to my work schedule, which is 3:oopm-3:00am tomorrow. Why does my bed call to me so loudly on nights I need to stay up as late as I can?