Design of my Decade

It's going to be 2009. The nineties feel like just a Collective Soul song ago. Alas, I have come to the startling discovery that an entire decade has passed since then. This time, ten years ago, we were entering the last year of the previous millenium. Upon further reflection, I realize that this last decade was, and will possibly always be, the most altering in my life.  

Ten interesting facts about 1999:

1: In 1999, I was twelve and in the eighth grade. In the last ten years, I have graduated from jr high, high school, and college. I have learned how to drive(no asian driving jabs, please.) and how to start IVs. I went from a snot nosed preteen to a twenty something with credentials.

2: In 1999, I was dancing in my underwear to the debut cds of BSB, NSYNC, Britney, and Christina. .  I sheepishly admit that some things can't be changed over a mere decade.  :)

3: In 1999, Varsity Blues was first movie release of the year. I was appalled by a lot of it. I hope that girl would still recognize me.

4: In 1999, Eric Harris and Dylan Kiebold executed the Columbine massacre.  The effect of this tragedy will stay with me for decades to come.  Would you have said yes, you believe in God?  I fervently hope so.  

5: In 1999, Napster was started and changed the way we listen to music and use the Internet.  Thanks, Shawn.  I dig it.  Apple also released the first iBook.

6: In 1999, the world population reached 6 billion.  It is now 750 million people richer.

7: In 1999, my family purchased our first cell phone.  We had 60 minutes a month, and only used it when someone was out of town.  I was the only one who could operate it.  

8: 1999 started with Clinton's impeachment.  2009 will start with Obama's inauguration.  

9: In 1999, Lance Armstrong won his first Tour de France.  He's won a few more in the last decade.  

10: In 1999 my parents went through the naturalization process, making them and me proud American citizens.  It's one of the most important anniversaries in my life.  

                   *addendum: upon reading this post my mother felt compelled to tell me that when she and my dad were being "sworn in" ol' Papa Sun didn't even know the Pledge of Allegiance.  It can't be that hard to belong here huh?

Love Love Love in the new year.

(tag) (/tag)

I'm sure you have taken note of the new look.  

I just wanted you to know that I took one web design class in high school.  

It was a saving grace for me.  

This revamp took an embarrassingly long time.

My eyes adore it.  Hope yours do as well.  

Love Love Love

Snowbird Watching

Since I wont be making it home for Christmas, I have elected to work.  In lieu of celebration, I spent a fabulous six days in Yuma, AZ with the retirees.  Grandma Dee and Grandpa John took in a stray asian for a lil while:) Loverly.

While it doesnt look like this in Arizona...

We did find some other interactive activities to occupy our time.

This was the VW Thing we decorated to be in the parade of lights.  It was superfun driving through all the neighborhoods wishing all the families a happy happy holiday.  Among the highlights were:

~ Grandpa John yelling out of our 'patriotic' float: "God Bless the DEMOCRATS!"

~Somewhere along the line Grandma changed her chant from "Merry Christmas!"  to "Hey you!  Cheers!" as she waved her water bottle.

~Grandma getting put off by the cactus, streetlights, and other inanimate objects that wouldn't wave back to her.  

~All the ol' boys telling us we were lookin good!

Aunt Terry already asked about the lack of brain bucket.  They dont make em in Arizona was what Grandma said.  

WE HAD ZERO FUN SIR.

*Wishing you and yours a wonderful time of faith and festivities.  If you are in the 509 area, be sure to contact my parents to be added to the holiday egg roll list!  They are pretty much legit.*

Channeling Florence

As promised, I am posting my thoughts of my new workplace.  After a week of orientation and another on the unit, I am wholly aware of just how different hospitals can be.  In this day and age of technology and clinical pathways, one would find it easy to assume that healthcare has uniformed into some sort of matchy-watchy system across the United States.  oh, how it is not so.

The hospital I have been assigned to has recently shed its "County General" name and business.  All I heard for a week is how they are NOT the county (s-hole) hospital anymore and are planning major changes in the near future.  How exciting a time it is for me.  With that being said,  they ARE the county hospital.  A crap hole by any other name would smell as foul.  Pardon, that's harsh.  What I mean to say is that patients define an establishment no matter where they are treated, and this hospital treats the  patients that the other hospitals reject.  Inmates, low-socioeconomic families, illegal immigrants, are all sent here.  I have no issue with treating any such people, but have to comment on the fact that people who can't pay their hospital bill make the hospital poor.  Which means I don't have use of a blanket warmer.  or supplies in the patient rooms.  or computerized charting.  or carrier robots.  or linens.  Shall I continue?  It's not like I can't do my job, but I've been spoiled.  I feel like the pretentious art-gallery owner's daughter that just got sent to teach jr highers how to paint by numbers.  I'm starting to feel bad for asking questions, because most every response is "yeah, we don't have that."  This is going to be really good for me.  Another ding on the Pro list is that county hospitals are notorious for getting all the weird stuff.  That, is sweet.  

Being that they are not on a computerized system, everything is charted on paper, like the Flintstones did.  There are 'audit nurses' (ahem, chart nazis) that are assigned daily whose sole assignment for the day is to check our charting.  "Mingni, you didn't date AND time".  ....."There's no space that told me to."....."Doesn't matter, add it in anyway."  Sigh.  OKay.  I actually don't hate paper charting, it's a lot easier to read and sort through.  I hate how much of it there is.  So far, I haven't been able to figure out how to chart the way I am being asked and still give any patient care.  I miss my kids throughout the day, because I barely see them.  I do, however, know the exact minute they peed last.  This will change.  It has to.  I work in Peds for the kids, the joy I get from them.  and for the birth control.  

Alas, this gadget girl has been thrust into this strange little city that seems untouched by the progress and advances that the nation's health care establishments (and I) have embraced so.  Pray for resilience, and send stat locks.  We only have one size.  I like the big ones.    

RAHR.

i SAID.  not allowed for us.  dang it.

Press Pass Optional

I am a believer in itunes.  It introduced me to a lot of fun artists and aided me in avoiding oh, so much homework in college.  I like the way the window looks and how you can check up on what America buys.  I like that the colors aren't overwhelming and that it knows my musical tastes.  I also love how universal it is.  Everyone has it and follows what it does.  I was thinking the other day as I was perusing the 'stacks' that I love the celebrity playlist section.  It's like snooping into the personal tastes of well known people.  It's further evidence why I think Zach Braff and I are MFEO.  However, as I thought further I became put off by the fact that I don't have one.  Ok, so musicians deserve chances to be pretentious and never mark anything that has appeared on a top chart of any kind.  But I'm not.  I like music.  Thus I think that if any former model that appears in this month's teenage bad movie is worthy to share, then so am I.  Even if I gave up Broadway at an early age for whatever it is I do now, I still deserve an itunes celebrity playlist.  Even if not on the actual store, it can be of blog glory.  

Behold my top thirteen stranded on an island songs:

"Peaceful Easy Feeling" by the Eagles.  Glenn Frey is my dreamboat.  I love the way his songs all have this roll-along quality to it.  Good music should be effortless, its merit obvious.  Besides, who doesn't want to sleep with him in the desert tonight, with a million stars all around?

"Waiting in Vain" by Annie Lennox.  You have to just turn it up, close your eyes, and saturate.  It will break your heart.  It feels epic in every way.  

"Always be my Baby" by Mariah Carey.  She was my first love.  This song was perfect for its era.  I was in the fifth grade and it seemed completely natural that whomever I was smitten with would always be a part of me.   Doo Doo doot, dum.

"All My Loving"  the Beatles....or Jim Sturgess.  You can't discount the original, but Jim's voice has that youthful, sultry, virility that I want to hear in this song.  Close your eyes and I'll kiss yuh.  ohhhhhhhhhhhh. 

"Seasons of Love"  the original B'way cast of Rent.  I dare you to not sing along and harmonize.  Loudly.  The emotions of this song are so raw.  Idina Menzel.  

"It's oh so Quiet" by Bjork.  She's a freak, but this song is so good.  I can't help but belt it out every time.  The horns are phenomenal.  

"Every Little Step" by Bobby Brown.  Don't throw tomatoes.  Just look past the drugs, attitude, and misplaced wardrobe and DANCE.  This song is great to run to.  C'mon, it won't make your hair poof.  

"Your Love is Extravagant" by Casting Crowns.  Another close your eyes and saturate song.  It's beautiful.  

"This Way"  by Dilated Peoples and Kanye West.  No matter how far I have already run or how exhausted/sweaty/over it I am, I can always run through this song.  I usually skip back and play/run through it again.  It's about as thuggish as I get.  

"What's so funny about (peace love and understanding)"  by Elvis Costello.  He has a silly little voice.  It always sounds like he needs some nasal suctioning.  Still love the song.  

"Loving, Touching, Squeezing" by Journey.  This recently topped "Lights" for me.  It's surprisingly sexy, in a sexy/cheesy sense.  Would be appropriate as background music for a striptease. Du-NUh nuh nuh.  No matter, I never met any Journey I didn't like.  

"1000 Things" by Jason Mraz.  He is a category all in himself.  I love his nerdy white boy demeanor, how he makes fun of himself and his scittilly dat dat dat scatting.  I have never heard anything quite like him.  I have no desire to.  Read his online journal if you get a minute.  He's almost as insightful as yours truly.  

"Falling" by Keahiwai.  My friend Dionne introduced me to this island group in college.  The vocals and arrangement are very simple, and sweet.  Conjures thoughts of surfboards and sunbathing for two. 

Love Love Love

December Madness

It was a sweet day in NCAA basketball.  My Zags topped the Hoosiers by a million points, Mr. Curry scored a whopping 44 pts (hmmm, I wonder who else did that against NC State?) ...and UM dropped a Duke.  BAH!  I believe in DeShawn Sims.  UM beat no 4 Blue Devils by a comfy 8 pts.  They have already beaten UCLA.... an appearance in the rankings perhaps?  What now, Coach K?!  I was on the treadmill while the UM game was on and hardly felt it all.  When the fans rushed the court I almost missed it because I was too busy falling off of the treadmill.  I LOVE a top ten upset.  Unless it's us, of course.  That's not allowed.  

Chateau che Mingni

Now taking reservations.  All major forms of affection accepted.  

My life doesnt suck.

I'm smiling because all of my stuff is still in the car.  and I think it's funny that I dug my swimmie out and headed straight for the pool.  Don't ever accuse me of not enjoying the finer things in life.  

PHX pro: taco stands.  

cons: the traffic sucks!  i'm going to try really hard to not need to make any left turns.

           -um, where am i going to watch my Zags play?  Matty and Austin need me!

I actively suppressed my urges last night to jump every time I heard a car door open outside of my sketchy motel room.  Boy was I glad to get outta there.  After a few hours of dealing with my AZ nursing license, I headed to my new apartment for 13 weeks.  Which is, nicer than any other place I have ever lived.  Or likely ever will.  If any of you buffoons get over the snow up north, get your ass down here.  There's room for the entire motley crue.  There's a great room that looks like an ESPN zone, full volleyball pit, pool/veranda, and perhaps the nicest private gym I have ever seen.  Weekly yoga classes offered, I'm going!!  As i type this, Im pretty sure the palm tree next to me is playing Christmas music out of  its trunk.  The sunshine/searing flesh feels amazing.  I'm not using sunscreen.  

Love Love Love

Currently listening to: George Michael.  He puts the boom boom into my heart.  

Although we've come (to the end of the road)

21 hours of driving.  over 1200 songs played on my ipod.  powerbars=meal replacements.  sketchy gas stations.  loss of vocal ability.  dirty looks for slow truck drivers. near-miss accidents due to taking pictures while driving (but just look at what I caught!).  so much roadkill debris on Marsha's tires.  I peed on the side of the road once.  Had to, it's part of the experience. I'M HERE.

The hundred miles on either side of the Utah/Arizona state border is gorgeous.  I had kind of forgotten about that and was so unprepared.  There were times when I would drive around a corner and gasp out loud at what I was looking at.  I want to climb those rocks someday.  Seriously, who knows about that?!  

Another interesting thought I had was the variety of places people inhabit.  There were homesteads scattered all through Southern Utah and Northern Arizona.  No Nordstrom in sight.  Baffling to me.  I admire the tenacity it must require to want that for yourself and your family.  Do you think they ride horses into town?  I would.  

It's bizarre to be in such a new place on my own.  I would think that it's no different than my recent adventure to NYC, but it feels completely unfamiliar.  I'll be honest, I don't like it that much right now.  NY was so exciting to me that my nerves were squashed by enthusiasm.  Phoenix enthusiasm is only medium-rare right now, but I'm sure that will change!  Especially considering the drive made me feel like a runaway.  That's just bad-ass.  My apt isn't ready tonight.  Rahr.  So I'm put up in a mildly seedy motel near the airport until the morning.  I think it's warm here but it's probably on in the mid 60s.  There's no one in the pool.  I realized about 4 miles outside of Phoenix city limits that I left all of my scrubs in the garage at my parents house.  Oh yeah, I'm here to work.  Dang it.  

currently listening to: Jamie Callum.  breakway roadtrip favorite this journey.  

along the open road.

My ass drove to Salt Lake City today.  I'm staying with Stace's parents for the night (what up Piggotts) Talk about urban sprawl.  sheesh.  It was definitely bittersweet driving away from home sweet Liberty Lake.  Those who have done any driving/goodbyes with me know that I was having myself a little fall apart for the first hour.  I treated with 90s Mariah Carey therapy.  Voice is hoarse/barely audible, but no more tears.  The drive was beautiful.  Surprisingly sunny the entire way.  

I had so much fun at home these last three weeks.  Weird.  It almost makes me uncomfortable to think that I enjoyed home so much, especially since I'm usually plotting my escape whilst there.  

I feel really good about having all this time to myself to drive.  It's cleansing or something.  Besides, I get to wail as loud as I want while truck drivers gawk.  I've another long drive tomorrow, through Utah and AZ into Phoenix.  I'm sure I will be needing more Mariah in my life.  Marsha likes it.

I miss you all.

Currently listening to: "waiting in vain" by annie lennox.  over and over again.  never gets old.  

iLife

I finally took the plunge and got a cute little MacBook.  My daddy-o might dive in with me....he's 52.  Old dog, new tricks!  J'adore!

psst.... can anyone tell which t-shirt I have on in this photobooth pic?  all my Palace girls should know!

Figures.

As many of you know, I keep my internet explorer homepage locked at cnn.com. That way, no matter if I am headed straight for youtube or broadway.com, I make myself catch some current events each day. Today, a particular headline caught my eye. "Astronaut loses toolbag during spacewalk". Turns out, a female astronaut spilled lubricant all over her stuff. While she was busy cleaning, her bag floated away. Geez, lady. Talk about a step backward for the Women's Movement. She essentially leaked "lotion" in her "purse" and dropped it. She should have done what we girls do on earth and asked the man beside her to hold it. Duh.

Theyre getting hitched:)

Terry Lynn and Tom are picking each other forever. I pick their baby girl! They had their engagement party recently. While I may be somewhat apathetic to the thought of matrimony at the moment, I am more than willing to celebrate their romantic triumph. What's more, I'm going to be a godmother! EEK!

When in Spokane....

You do as the Spokanites do. Which is drink beer and dance to old hip-hop at 211. Which is what I did.

Not getting tooo excited, but.....

I did sign an employment contract this week. Send prayers that it will hold!

WeenHallow 2008

Costume party with the freaks and geeks of NYC! It was insane. ly fun. I saw things that I could no more explain than reenact myself. People are really involved in this tradition. The parade is an annual event that goes from Midtown through the West (Greenwich) Village and Soho. I'm telling you, go if you ever have a chance. A Grecian Princess, a flapper girl, and Lady Luck!

He lost his light saber.

He thinks NYC baseball has been scary this season. I think his spelling is scary.

Peanut Butta Jelly Time!

Raindrops on Roses

These are a few of my favorite things in NYC: South Street Seaport. Feels like a blast from the past. Cobblestone streets, colonial style buildings, fish smell. Loverly!

This SwimBikeRun store is really close to the park. I rented a bike there several times and almost considered running with their group. Then I found out they were all training for the marathon....and then I decided to stay with my leisurely jog around the Reservoir.

They also have karaoke. With a deejay who wears GoGo boots. FUN! Diablo Royale Bar & Restaurant in the West Village. British shirtless barkeep not always guaranteed. But Stu is always worth the trek:)

Central Park. The leaves were changing. We dont get much of that in the PNW.

Serendipity's frrrrozen hot chocolates are in a class of thier own. I recommend the mint!

Westville Restaurant in the West Village. Aaron will tell you about the 20 veggie options, and then convince you to get the baked Mac n Cheese. and he's right.


Happy Taco on the UES. The name says it all!

Really great appetizers!

There are several brew houses in Manhattan, but this one boasts 64 beers on tap, and is located across the street from the Joshua Tree.

MacLaren's is based on McGee's. Our server was named Carl. I didnt bring it up, but giggled inside while I was there.
The fire escape at my apt 300 W 10th in Greenwich. I ate breakfast out there almost daily. The view is of the Hudson River and New Joisay. If I could play "Moon River" on the ukelule, it would have been soooo Holly Golightly. Gruesome.