quick observations

1. Dear Comprehensive Breast Health: When I return calls for my surgeons, I'm not surprised to be put on hold as I'm transferred around the office. However, I must tell you that it is too early to be playing Christmas muzak as your "on hold" music. Please go back to the Yanni-inspired soft rock you normally play. It's the end of October, for pete's sake. Don't sneak the holidays up any more than the commercial industry giants do.
2. I'm finding that my refusal to buy hair spray makes it difficult to curl my hair into a Lucille Ball worthy pile of curls. However, I will make due with my 1980s-era curling iron and no hair spray, because I have principles: no hairspray.
3. Loved Slumdog Millionaire.
4. Carmen is moving to Iowa...which is tons better than Illinois. Moving up in the Midwest!
5. I'm really looking forward to Thanksgiving.

peace and love,

m

dear verizon/alltel:

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

thank you.

peace and love,

m

weird back thing

After I convinced myself that it would be much better if I got up and showered in case I got called in this morning, rather than stay in bed and risk having to go to work with bedhead, I discovered this very strange thing on my back:

I have been wracking my brain trying to figure out what would cause this approximately 3 inch, heart-shaped, waffle-print pattern of petechiae on my back, but have come up with nothing. It doesn't hurt, isn't raised, and wasn't there yesterday. I don't sleep on my back, I don't remember running into anything or getting pinched, and IT'S DRIVING ME TRUCKNUTZ! So if anyone knows what it is, like I've been inhabited by a demon for the Halloween week, please let me know so I can stop freaking out. Not that I think I'm dying or anything [Lindsey has the hypochondriac gene in this family], but it's bothering me because I can't explain it!

In other news, my Papa Z turns 58 tomorrow!!

peace and love [and weird dots],

m

time gets away

Another week down and another one coming. So goes life :)

Work is work. I took care of a woman the other day who told me I reminded her of her sister-in-law. I cautiously asked if this was a good thing or not! She laughed and said it was definitely a good thing. Yesterday I had a lady with tattooed eyeliner, lips, and brows. I dunno, I guess it would be nice to not have to do your makeup each day, but for me, the fun part about makeup is changing it up!

Sam's new house is coming along well. She's picked out cabinets, flooring, a new couch, all sorts of things. She's very excited and rightly so. I'm so happy that she's finally getting something NEW. The house is going to be beautiful and easy for one person to maintain; plus, the view from the hill is amazing. I am surprised that she's going with a more modern look for everything. I would have put money on a North Woods theme...but she really liked the look Mama Z created. I know I've said it before, but I'm so proud of her for taking charge of her life like this after being dealt a raw deal. I loved my uncle, but he was definitely holding her back.

In other news, Papa Z had a bit of a scare when he passed out in the bathroom a week ago, which resulted in a trip to the ER in the ambulance! Mom had to call the neighbors to assure them everything was okay. She also made the paramedics leave for the hospital without the siren. He made Mama Z promise not to call me that night, as it would have resulted in me leaving MKE immediately for home to hound the ER staff. They ran all sorts of tests, couldn't find anything wrong, and sent him home with future appointments with the cardiologist and neurologist. The cardiologist has him wearing a Holter monitor to record his heart activity. Needless to say, Papa Z is not pleased. It is difficult to sleep in, and we all know how much sleep the Z family requires :) He also has had a couple of ECHOs done, which showed a slightly enlarged ventricle, but the cardiologist doesn't see any cause for alarm. I'm pretty sure all the Holter monitor results are going to show are 1) sinus bradycardia [slow heartrate], and 2) a crabbypants Papa Z for having to wear it while hunting, teaching, and sleeping!

Shrek needed a new muffler. Yikes, that is expensive. However, I have noticed an immediate improvement in gas mileage with the tuneup!

Kiona had a Halloween birthday party last weekend. One other kid showed up to the 4 year old's party. No matter though, she loves adults and being the center of attention. She was also the cutest Jedi you've ever seen :) Jeanette and Sylvia go all out for Halloween and we had a blast. I actually lost their address, but it didn't matter because you can practically see their house from space! Now I need a dead celebrity costume for Dan's party on Halloween. I'm leaning towards being Tallulah Bankhead, although it will probably require a lot of explaining...but it does give the excuse for dressing fabulously, always having a cocktail in hand, and calling everyone 'dahling.' And besides, after 11 pm, no one is going to care ;)

Tux is doing well. Wednesday night I woke up in a panic because I couldn't breathe...because the cat was curled up, snoring away on my chest. What a silly rawr!

peace and love,

m

i wish gibbs...

...would just come out and say what he wants to: "You're a fucking idiot, Chip." You can tell how much he's struggling to maintain a sense of decency when he's being asked such stupid questions. I love the man. Rock on Gibbs!!

peace and love,

m

strike out

I guess I can't say shopping was a complete strike out, as I did come home with 2 books, but I didn't find anything I was looking for. The only thing I was tempted to buy was a cute pair of pin-striped pants, but ultimately decided that they were too wide at the bottom. Additionally, I didn't feel like finding a tailor to hem the supposedly "ankle-length" pants to my actual ankle. Seriously, whose ankle are they using for measurement--Lebron James?

In adorable Mr. Tux news, he is being my brave bug catcher. We'll be snuggled on the sofa at night and he'll be half-asleep when suddenly he leaps off and races to wherever the bug he's spotted is, where I grab the nearest hard object and smash it! He's always disappointed that he doesn't get the bug, but I reward him with crunchies :) I find it amazing how he sees them. It's like x-ray vision!

peace and love,

m

brr!

Well, apparently it snowed in my old university town overnight, and it's only 38 degrees here in MKE; and the apartment building's heat turned on last weekend [came home from the farm to wilted plants and am currently trying to resuscitate], I took my long underwear to work...yep, it's turning into winter quite quickly here in good old WI! I do like winter...I could deal without the subzero days, especially here on the lake, but I'll take 4 distinct seasons over 12 months of muggy heat anytime. I love snow and sledding and hot cocoa and all that jazz. Oh, and Christmas :D

However, with winter fast approaching, it means that I have to begin the search for sweaters, and I really struggle with that. I need the fashion industry to stop with the wool/cashmere/animal product obsession and go back to good, old-fashioned, heavy cotton sweaters so I don't break out in hives the moment I even think about putting on a sweater :) Mmkay? Is that too much to ask? I think Old Navy has some nice cotton sweaters, so I'll check there. Any other suggestions? Hmm, I feel as though I wrote almost the same post last year, haha!

In other Megan news, I had a wonderful time at the farm with the fam last weekend. Everyone was there except the MN Zieglers [Jim made an appearance], Hannah, and the WA family. It was a lot of fun. We played games, ate a ton of delicious food [mmm, Mama Phyl's soup and dessert], and sat around the fire. We burned a giant chimney from the new water pump the guys put in, and it was spectacular. Flames nearly to the power lines. Is that a little redneck? Oh well :) It's tradition!

Aunt Sam is moving forward with her plans to...move on. She is having an auction for most of the stuff from the farm. The fire department is going to do a practice burn on her old house, and she showed us where she's building her new house. It's going to be really nice, with a spectacular view of the valley. Over the winter, she is going to study for her GED, and then take First Responder and eventually CNA classes. I'm so proud of her for doing it and I know she will be really good at what she does. The thing that frustrates me is the lack of support from Wolf's family. They aren't talking to her because they think she should keep farming because "it's what Wolf would do." Sorry people, a person cannot sustain a living on a hobby farm, while living in a home with a condemned sewage system, and working a job [Walmart stocker] that is wreaking havoc on her body. She is taking steps to better her situation, herself, and her community. Honestly, it doesn't surprise me that they aren't being supportive of a strong woman, but it still pisses me off. I've always thought that Sam is a hardcore feminist. I think she'll start to realize it too :)

Funnies from work:

"Hi, my name is Megan and I'm going to take care of you in surgery tonight."

"No you're not, you shit!" --exchange with lady with severe Alzheimer's

"Meg, you made that cake?! Oh my god! It was like an orgasm--better than sex!" --Zena

"I need a BIS in room 7."

"You're going to take a piss in room 7?!" --Dr. Martinez misunderstanding Dr. Warsh

After another anesthesiologist comes into the room, jabbers excitedly, and leaves: "Whoa, I think he got into the cocaine..." said in a thick Russian accent by Dr. Milshteyn.

peace and love,

m

congratulations

President Obama,

Big things are expected of you. Please don't disappoint us.

peace and love,

m

lindsay lohan needs to read this.

http://tightsarenotpants.com/manifesto

Seriously. I saw a girl in Target the other night that just made me cringe. What intelligent adult thinks that something that encompasses the entire lower half of the body in skin-tight lycra is acceptable to wear out of the dance studio [eh, or renaissance fair or tribute band rehearsal]?

Tights are for the following: ballet, wearing under pants to keep warm, 80s hair metal, and little girls.

Tights [and their illegitimate spawn leggings] are not a substitute for pants. No one over the age of 10 should be wearing them, unless said person is a ballet dancer, ren fair participant, or Jon Bon Jovi in 1984.

peace and love,

m

Still alive

Still alive, still kicking, just incredibly busy and exhausted. But looking forward to the weekend at the farm with the fam!

Tuxie Cat is doing very well. He's back to all of his naughty behaviors, like begging for treats, racing around the house in the middle of the night, and trying to sleep in the exact middle of the bed. The vet said his incision looked great and that he has one of the best PU results that they've seen. When I have more time, I'll share the adventure we had going to the vet last time. Suffice to say, he was a brat :)

I can't believe that it's October. That means I have to find a birthday gift for Dad. Crikey. He's hard to shop for. I can't buy him anything for hunting, as I know nothing about it and would probably end up getting the wrong shade of camo or something like that. <--yes, there is such a thing as shades of camo. You need white/grey for winter, and stuff like that. It's all very deep.

October also means it's been a year since losing Grandpa Z. I miss him so much, but I know that he's in a much better place. He's probably enjoying an Old Style right now :)

peace and love,

m