a mathematical equation for you

Gin + pine scented candle =

Did you get the answer? Need some help?

It's a Christmas tree, of course! Well, what I mean is, it makes my fake tree seem a little more real. That's one sad thing [besides essentially throwing away money] about living in an apartment--no real Christmas trees allowed here.

Here's the finished product. Just like last year, Tuxedo is [so far] well-behaved around it. He likes to sit underneath it like

a present. Or maybe he's pretending to be a ferocious mountain lion in the forest...that's probably more like it ;)

I have some gifts to wrap for under it, but I still have the majority of my shopping to do. Jenn's is almost complete, and I have Dad's [new digital camera, shh!] but have to do some manual reading so I can do the Christmas morning tutorial! That leaves: Mom, Eric, the Grandmas, Nicholas, Sara, Preston, Teresa, and anyone else I'm forgetting at the moment. And Tuxedo, but I know what I'm getting that monster--a new catnip cigar and some licks of ice cream on Christmas. What a spoiled kittycat!

I'm excited for Christmas, except for the onslaught of Christmas music that we're going to suffer through. As of today, these are the 5 stations at work: talk, Christmas, Christmas, country, and classical. UGH!!

Just like last year, Mr. Tux thought the box was the best thing! So silly. He managed to get one of his mice into the box, and in the process of attacking it, tipped the whole box over! Ahh, that's my boy ;)

peace, love, and happy holidays,

m

thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving! My aunt and uncle were kind enough to take in <> for Packers + bloody marys as well as Thanksgiving dinner today. I am so full of delicious food! Tomorrow I go to work, and then up to the farm for the weekend. I'll most likely go Saturday morning, unless I get out of work super early. It's possible; when I left yesterday there were no general cases scheduled...but I'm sure that has changed. Surgeons, they don't know how to not work.

So what am I thankful for?

• My wonderful, amazing family. I don't know what I would do without them.
• Mr. Tuxedo Cat, who I am willing to spend lots of monies on so he doesn't get sick. I would be so sad without my little monster.
• Having a job. Even though it kills me to work for THE MAN every day, I know having a job in this economy is a blessing.
• The Parking Diva, who almost always helps me find a sweet parking spot for little Shrek.
• The new people I have met this year.
• My health, sprained thumb and all :)
• Coffee, without which I would not make it through the day.

peace and love,

m

lovely weekend

Sometimes, having a surprise Mama Z visit is just what the doctor ordered. I got the phone call "Wash your dishes, I'm coming over!" at 10 am on Saturday morning, and by noon, she was here. We did some Christmas shopping, had delicious Thai food at EE Sane, and went to the "fancy movie theatre," aka iPic at Bayshore, where we had beer and popcorn and watched the incredibly corny 2012. John Cusack is puppy-dog adorable, but even that and apocalyptic special effects can't save a made-for-TV movie. This morning we walked to Alterra for brunch, where I had a tasty Louisiana spicy tofu hash breakfast burrito and good, strong coffee [tm]. Then we walked down by Lake Michigan and out on the breakwater. It's crazy that it's nearly Thanksgiving and I only had to wear my corduroy blazer. We came back to Casa de Meg and watched some Discovery Channel [yeah, the dork comes from both Mama and Papa Z] and played with Mr. Tux. She headed home around 1 pm, and I took a little nap.

I'm on call until 11 pm, so I decided to finally watch Capote, which has been sitting in my DVR list since last December. It was very good.

My thumb is doing pretty well. I have a new splint that is more flexible so I can actually work instead of laminating things and other BS work like that. I never thought I would be excited to go back to work, but that week of pushing papers was like torture for someone who is used to running around 8 hours a day! It still hurts to bend it in, but I am confident that it will be fully functional in a couple of weeks...the doctor mentioned physio, which makes me wonder what kind of PT do you do for a sprained thumb...little pushups?! hehe :)

peace and love,

m

workplace injury

I filed my 1st worker's comp today, after spraining my left thumb tightening a retractor clamp. I tore my ulnar collateral ligament. I'm in a splint for a week, during which I'm not allowed to use my left hand [eek!], and then I have a checkup with a hand surgeon. Hopefully the ligament will be filling in nicely with scar tissue, otherwise he will put me in a cast for 6 weeks...and trust me, I cannot be on light duty for 6 weeks. I barely handled 7 hours of it today! Honestly, I'm a nurse, I can't do sitting at a desk!

peace and love, your cranky nurse,

m

dr. nancy snyderman...

...she gets it right:

Snyderman: "A white man deciding a woman's…… a woman's responsibility in her own procreation. I mean I ... I find it infuriating. I mean, I really think it doesn't matter what side of the abortion issue or pro-choice issue you're on, the fact that they are now making health care harder and harder for women to navigate the system. I think it's outrageous—just outrageous. Kelly O'Donnell, thank you so much. And folks it's not about abortion. It really is about one more burden for women navigating the health care system."

peace and love,

m

oh brother...

I was on the phone with Mama Z tonight, when Eric called. After I helped Mama Z with the concept of call-waiting, this is what Eric needed:

Eric: "Mom, I'm cooking pasta salad. What's canola oil?"

peace and love,

m

new rules

Taking a page from Bill Maher's book, here are my New Rules.

• No construction before 9 am on Saturday mornings. It's bad enough that you wake me up at 6:30 am every weekday, and now you think you can do it on the weekends too? Show some common courtesy and wait until the sun is actually up before you start unloading dump trucks on the one day of the week I have no responsibilities.
• No matter what the letter is behind your name, if you're obstructing health care reform, you are failing America. Yes, I'm talking to you, Bart Stupak! Furthermore, if you can't observe the simplest of Robert's Rules of Order, you don't have the right to be called a Representative.
• Don't mess with my nursing license. I won't put myself on the line for you, whether you are a colleague or a surgeon.
• My name is Megan, not: sweetie, hon [unless you're someone special], or missy. I will tolerate: Meg, Megs, and even Megsters if I like you. Don't ever call me Meggie. Easy enough!
• Twilight is ridiculous, poorly written, and recycles ideas from better authors. Robert Pattinson isn't that attractive, and the fact that Volvo is now running Twilight-related ads makes them a pawn in the tween world of vapidity.

peace and love,

m

2 kinds of people in the world...

...or at least Milwaukee:

• People who think I'm younger than 21 [although I suppose it doesn't help that I went to buy beer wearing a hat with pom-poms and ear flaps].
• People who think I'm in my late 20s/early 30s...must be that mature vibe I give off [which leads me to believe that these people haven't seen my at my worst].

In other news, IT'S FRIDAY!!!!

peace and love,

m

november.

Things I have learned so far, in November:

• My coffee pot does not have an automatic off switch. Oops.
• UPS trucks have white tops.
• Tux does not like people of the XY chromosome persuasion [except, for some odd reason, Papa Z].

peace and love,

m