Karen turns 29

My birthday celebration started Friday the 11th. Danny baked me a strawberry cake with cream cheese icing and got some awesome authentic Italian pizza from this great place we found nearby. We caught up on our TV shows online and had a yummy date night in.
Saturday we met Kristine and Joe at Universal Studios Islands of Adventure. This was my gift from Danny, year round passes to the park. On the way we got McDonald's for breakfast, the crepe master got to sleep in. The McD's was the greasiest I have ever had and the coffee was soooo strong. My stomach was not happy, oh, and I had been fighting a bad cold the past couple of days and didn't sleep the night before either from the non drowsy sudafed Danny bought me or maybe it was my messed up sleeping schedule from work. Anyway, after we raced from the gates and rode the first roller coaster I was ready to puke. I was starting to feel like an old fart who was loosing her edge at 29! We took some time looking in gift shops and doing some less jarring rides (ie Dr. Suess land), and I semi recovered. I pushed through and was not about to admit I just wanted to curl up and take a nap. Overall the day was so much fun. It was nice being able to take our time because we can come back all year. Favorite ride: the Rip Ride and Rocket?...or something, you get to pick the song that is played in your headset during the ride. Favorite game played: see how many disney things/apparel you can spot on people. Points were given for each item, Danny was the winner. Favorite Island: Harry Potter. It is amazing how much it looks like the movies.
Danny and I left the park around 4, then had to turn around after I realized I had left my phone in Kristine's car. Sorry again Kristine for making you walk to the parking lot for that. We got my phone and were on our way home. I fell asleep and then we were home, amazing how that happens. Danny had stopped on the way to get me some drowsy cold medicine. I showered, popped some pills then turned in for a 22hour nyquil induced coma. I'm not kidding. I went to bed around 6pm and didn't wake up until 4pm Sunday. I would rouse every 6 or so hours still feel like crap, pop some more pills, then curl back into bed. I had to work Sunday night. My first night off orientation and on my own, and with a head cold no less. Happy birthday to me! The shift went well, my preceptor was the charge nurse so I think she rigged my assignment so it would be easy. I'm off now until Thursday so maybe I will finally kick this cold.
Thank you for all the happy birthday messages left on my voicemail, they were nice to listen to on my way to work. Love you guys!

Side note:
Danny's computer is fixed! So hopefully there will be more posts to come.

Mr. Robert Browning, Citizen of the Month

Yesterday (I'm not really sure if it was yesterday. I have worked 2 nights in a row and have lost track), while I was at work, Danny witnessed a "domestic dispute." Our next door neighbors threw down. Danny heard yelling and derogatory language and stepped outside to investigate. Not having much experience with outrageous-hotheaded-not-thinking-logically arguments he tried to reason with them. There was physical contact between the couple, punching and slapping and guys pulling them apart, so Danny called the police. Let me just also mention that we have heard these neighbors through our walls, which I have shamelessly listened to, argue with overly dramatic crying and ultimatums. Also, they are a lesbian couple.

Today (I do know for a fact this was today), as Danny and I were going to the mall, we noticed a lot of smoke it the brush at the edge of the parking lot. I said "boy scout, you better call the fire department." 911 was called and after a few minutes repeating the same information to the dispatcher..."I don't actually see a fire, but there is enough smoke to indicate there is definitely a fire. Yes, the SW side of the mall. Yes, by Sears. Yes, southwest. Well, like I said, I don't actually see any flames, but there is a fire in the brush. Yes, by Sears. There is a lot of smoke. Yes, the Volusia Mall." Within minutes we saw a fire truck. Citizen Browning saved the day again.

After all the fire business Danny said that was the first time he had called 911.
Me: Really? What about the lesbian's fight?
D: I called the police department
Me: where did you get the number? (kind of a stupid question, I know)
D: I programmed it into my phone when we moved here.

And he always carries a flashlight, a pen and a lighter.

Also, it is Bike Week here and we plan to go downtown into the madness Thursday night. I will let you know if Citizen Browning strikes again.

What day is it?

I have asked Danny this question so many times I'm getting on my own nerves. Working nights has really messed with my head. Getting off of a 12 hour shift at 7:30am then telling people "Good Morning" in the elevator can do that. Morning is now 5 in the evening and night is now 8 in the morning. It's even more confusing trying to figure out when to sleep on my days off then transition back to nights when I work again. This can lead to entire 18 hour stretches in bed, and/or being wide awake and on Pintrest at 3am.

Working Nights

The Pros:

• I am so awake at work. I think its official: I am a night person. It is not hard at all for me to stay up all night.


• I have much more time to get ready before work. I really like to dawdle when getting ready in the "morning." I hate to be rushed. Getting up at 3:30 in the afternoon is much better than 3:30 in the morning.


• The shift differential

The Cons:

• A confused brain.


• Trying to sleep when maintenance men are replacing all the patio railings in our apartment complex.


• Vic is going to get so fat and lazy. He sleeps with Danny at night, then when I get home just stays right where he is and sleeps with me until I wake up at 4pm.


• I really haven't cooked lately, something I really enjoy doing. The timing is just always wrong to cook and eat a meal with Danny.

Thank God for blackout curtains (which I fashioned together with duct tape the other day) and ear plugs.

Pintrest recipe fail

"Skip the icing. Add a marshmellow 5 minutes before the end of cooking time."
Yeah right.

Valentine's Day recap

Danny surprised me with flowers at 5:00 in the morning while I was getting ready for work, and Butterfingers (my favorite candy).
I made Danny pajama pants that he has been asking for ever since he got rid of his "hammer" pants. They actually had little tiny hammers on them. There is much debate around our house as to why the pants are gone. He swears I hated those pants and told him to get rid of them. First, I thought the pants were hilarious, especially when he would do hammer time and sing and do the dance in his best white boy way. Second, when does Danny do anything I "tell" him to do?
Anyway...
So I had to top the hammer pants. I think these are much funnier.





Yes those are lobsters.
I was banking on the fact that Danny knew the random piece of trivia that lobsters mate for life. I know, awwwwww. I thought it was a cute Vday gift too. Instead, he opened the gift and looked a little confused. I had to explain.
Next pair in the works is flannel fabric with neon rocket ships flying around :)

"To extend the healing ministry of Christ" Florida Hospital mission statement

I have been orienting all this week to the Florida Hospital way. I am so excited to be a part of this hospital (I wrote this kind of crap on all my applications, but now I really and truly mean it). This week has been so well organized and all of the speakers have been so knowledgeable. This company puts so much time into training its employees I'm pretty confident it will be an extreme contrast from my last place of employment. Most of the information has been extremely useful...and there was free food. Tomorrow I do an 8hr shadow day on my unit. I am so excited to finally get on the floor!
Here is my schedule for the next few weeks:

Mon 2/20: More orienting 8:00-4:30
Tues-Thurs 2/21-2/23: 16 hours of online modules to be completed at home
Fri 2/24: 12 hr shadow day 7a-7p
Sun 2/26: First clinical day! (and first night shift ever) 7pm-7am
Mon 2/27: 7p-7a
Thur 3/1: (I can't believe its going to be March soon!) 7p-7a
Sun 3/4: 7p-7a
Mon 3/5: 7p-7a
Fri 3/9: 7p-7a

That's right, I only work 3 DAYS A WEEK!
Feel free to call me to keep me awake on these work days when I am driving home from 7:30am-8:30am.

You're not going to believe this

I have to share this with you all because it is just too interesting not to. I had reservations though. I am bearing my bad housekeeping soul to you all, please do not judge too harshly.

This conversation took place this morning around 7am.

Danny: Hey, you up?

Me: yeah

D: Can I show you something in the bathroom?

Me: Did you have a big poop this morning or something?

D: No, I wouldn't have woken you up for that. I would have not flushed and shown you later. This you have to get out of bed for. Really.

Me:What is it?

D: come see.


This is what I found:

Yes, that is a mushroom growing out of the tile in the shower.

I thought it was a joke. I must have asked Danny a dozen times, "Did you put that there?" How does this happen?!

Now let me please defend myself. I cleaned this shower last week. I had full intentions on cleaning it again today, before I knew about the mushroom (now I don't know, do I let it grow and see how big it gets?). This part of our shower puddles water, and it pretty much stays moldy. We live in an old apartment. I'd rather not think about it, but who knows what has been in that shower.

*Apologies to my mother. This is in no way a reflection on her and/or how she raised me.