It's All About Me...Yes Again

I know I already played the 5 question game, but I think it's fun. So guess what...I got more questions from the fabulous Julochka so I'm going to answer them darn it. Be sure to check out her blog if you haven't yet. She's an amazing photographer and has wonderful taste in shoes...


1. what does your ideal vacation look like?
This is a tough one. I think an ideal vacation for me has to have a bit of an educational slant. I like to know things about people, cultures, religions, etc so when I go to a new country I want to know how it's residents got to be there, so having someone knowlegable with me is a wonderful bonus. However I also want to get a feel for the residents by going into pubs or other local hangout. I think my ideal vacation would be in Europe...but not necessarily. I've traveled quite a bit...well, for an American anyway, I think people in other countries probably travel more, but that may be a misconception. But I digress. I travel as often as I can and I love going to other countries, but Europe keeps calling me back. Maybe it has to do with my heritage.

2. if you could only buy one brand of purse for the rest of your life, what brand would it be? (you can buy as many of that brand as you want, but only the one brand.)
Agghhhh! Another tough one! You know what, I'd actually probably have to go with Coach. It's sort of a cliche now I think because everyone I know has one, or usually more than one. But they are well made, they come in everything from bright pink patent leather to a basic black handbag. I have owned a couple of the more expensive brands, but I don't like the whole line like with Coach. I always wanted to have a Versace and I was determined to buy one in Italy a couple years ago. I couldn't find one I liked. Honestly. I mean I was prepared to put down a boatload of money (it was going to be my only souvenir) and I was so disappointed. I went over to Gucci and bought one on clearance. It made me happy, made husband ultra happy, and I got to bring home a few other trinkets with all the money I saved.

3. who is your favorite muppet?
Oh my gosh, can't you just ask me about my sex life or something??? Actually I was more of a Mr Rogers fan than a Muppet fan. But if I had to name one I'll say Beaker. Or maybe Cookie Monster. Yeah, me like cookies.

4. harkening back to the early days of reality t.v. - would you have tried/did you try to get on Real World or Road Rules?
Haha. I am NOT a reality tv fan. No I have never tried to get on a show. I think I may have seen a couple minutes of both shows, but I don't really know enough to say. I did want to be Martha Quinn or Nina Blackwood (MTV video jockeys)

5. when they make the movie of your life, who will play you?
hahaha this is a great one. And yet I have no idea. How about Audrey Hepburn? I just asked my husband and he said Sandra Bullock. I'll go with that one.

Hope you learned something new about me today. If you want to play along just let me know!!

Rocking the Tiara

Thanks so much to The Ice Queen for awarding me the Awe-Summmm Award. I think she is pretty awesome too so be sure to check her out!

Unfortuately we all know you cant get somethin for nuthin' so here's the rules folks...

1. List 7 things that make me awe-summm!
2. Pass the award onto 7 bloggers that I love
3. Tag those bloggers to let them know they are now Queens too (and link back to the Queen who tagged you

7 things that make me awe-summmm!

• I spend a good deal of my time doing volunteer work. It started a few years ago at Christmas when the kids kept asking for stuff and kept getting it. I realized that they have no concept of money and husband and I thought they needed a good dose of reality. We had them volunteer anywhere they wanted for a few hours. Then husband and I realized we were pretty hypocritical since we didn't do anything either. Since then we have become involved with several charities in our area; I'm on the Board of our local Habitat for Humanity and the Family Selection Chair, I am a member of the local Junior Service Club which is a non-profit organization that helps needy families in our community, and I volunteer as often as I can at Hope Animal Rescues (which is where we got our Jenny).
• I, like Ice Queen, also always pick up after my dogs. I can't stand that some people think I won't mind stepping in a big pile of dog shit poop, but really I do mind it. Especially because I really like my shoes. The point is, if you are going to have a pet you need to be responsible for cleaning up after it when you are in public places like bike trails, parks, etc. Now, in my own yard I don't go pick it up. I figure that if you're walking around my yard then a) you know me well enough to know that I have 2 dogs and b) you are careful enough to look for land mines.
• I am surrounded by teen age girls and have not shot, stabbed, maimed, marred, or damaged any one of them.
• I dress for the weather. I'm sorry but one of my pet peeves is seeing someone in a pink suit in the middle of december with sleet and snow and slush. Umm, your pretty pink pumps don't look right in that puddle of grimy snow melt. That also goes for the woman wearing the black velvet dress when it's 95 degrees out. Yes, I saw this woman at the pharmacy on friday. I wish I had my camera. Black velvet. On the hottest day we've had so far. That's just nuts.
• I never ridicule people for wearing inappropriate clothes...at least not to their faces. I only do it in the blogosphere. And, in my defence, I really would never talk about someones ability or inability to afford clothes. It's only that really, how about a t-shirt and shorts? Is black velvet all you had? In the middle of the day? When it's hotter than hades out??
• Crap. Now I feel all bad for being catty about this woman and her clothes. See, I am nice. Usually.
• I love almost all dogs. There are some that I think personalities just don't mesh, but for the most part dogs just want to love you and to be loved and there are no strings attached. Same with kitties. I love kitties but I have a daughter that is highly allergic and we just can't have them in the house. She's a senior in high school though so maybe in a few years...

Ok, now I have to tag seven people. I hate this part cuz I don't want anyone to feel bad about not getting tagged, but I also don't want to annoy people who hate getting tagged. So here are my tags and I hope it doesn't make anyone unhappy.

• Spud at Chez Spud
• Ali at Inner Ramblings...
• Jules at Just Jules
• Polly at Sotto Voce
• Willow at Willow Manor
• Liz at The Fragrant Muse
• Stepford Dreams

A Day in the Life

I've been thinking about the name of my blog and thought I should share what a Day in the Life of a Would-Be Bambi really is. Well, I don't really know exactly what it is. But what I do know is what a day in my life is like so I thought I'd share a little with you.

The first thing I do is wake up at the butt-crack of dawn 5:45 and take Jenny, the oh-so-elegantly sprawled dog to the left, and Juneau (my favorite child ---shhhhh!) on their daily walk. Rain or shine, sleet or snow, we stumble out of bed and go for a walk. Ok that's not true. If it's raining I usually say "screw it" but then I always pay for it later. The deal is that Jenny, our rescue dog, has to poop in very specific places. I can't just shoo her out the door and expect her to do her business. It's a very methodical process and everything has to go just right. God forbid a bird should happen to call, a mild breeze should blow past her butt, or a hapless fly should happen by, poor Jenny wont poop. Trust me. I know. Although what goes in must eventually come out, and if she doesn't poop on the morning walk , I know it's coming out somewhere in my house. Again, only in special places (like on the rug I bought in Turkey, or in front of #6s room - much to her chagrin. Teenage girls do not like poop. Especially not stinky fat dog poop.

After the morning constitutional takes place, I quickly shower and dress for work. At least lately. I do relief work, so luckily I have many days that I can move a bit slower. However I am taking over for a pharmacist on maternity leave so I actually have to get up and go to work most days. It kinda sucks.

My next stop is non-negotiable. I think we all know where this is heading. My neighborhood starbucks. I usually get a grande skinny caramel latte, but lately I've super-sized to a quad venti skinny caramel latte. Must be because I know that it's going to be 98 degrees out I feel the need to get as much coffee in me at one time. Or because working 5 or 6 days a week (when you're used to 2 or 3) kinda sucks.

After I have purchased my mega-latte (ok and sometimes I also purchase a cinnamon scone, does that really make me a bad person???) I begin my commute to work. This is not usually too bad as I tend to stay in a 30mi radius (I prefer the 4mi radius, but I follow the money...) This summer my job is 11 miles from my house, so it's a pretty easy commute. Or should be. If it weren't construction season... (this isn't my photo, but the credits are in the link)

Anyway, my drive to work is usually uneventful and I have time to ponder speed limits, life, or myself in an Audrey Hepburn 'do...

Once I get to the pharmacy the real fun beings. I get about a bazillion calls from druggies wanting to know if their vicodin/xanax/lorcet/soma/ativan/ultram is ready.

In addition there are the many calls of the regualr people wanting refills on blood pressure, cholesteral, or any numerous medical condition medicines. Dont forget there is also the endless phone calls from doctors, nurses, etc wanting to know specifics about medications, dosages, pregnancy classifications, etc. I get calls on many different issues and usually I am more than happy to help the caller out.

Some days I even get to do the crossword puzzle...but I can't always finish it. Darn it.

After a fun filled day in the pharmacy I get to go home to one of several things, depending on the season of course. Sometimes its soccer or field hockey games,

Sometimes it's hanging by the pool...

Sometimes it's working out to relieve stress, or maybe to make myself feel better about all the wine flab squishy parts of me my wonderful husband has to hold on to.

Sometimes it's believing they all really exist...

And sometimes its just being grateful for the most wonderful person in my life...

Random Favorites

Thanks so much to Seaside Stories for tagging me in this post! So here are some of my faves:

Favorite Films

• Braveheart
• Casablanca
• The Breakfast Club
• Fast Times at Ridgemont High
• Breakfast at Tiffany's

Favorite Songs
I don't think I have 5 favortie songs...it totally depends on my mood. So I'm cheating.

Favorite Music to Listen When...

• I'm exercising: techno, 80s pop, Aerosmith, Lady Gaga, some Fergie, anything that'll keep me moving
• I'm cooking: Frank Sinatra
• I'm lounging: Erin Bode (jazz)
• I'm by the pool: 80s, 90s

Favorite Crushes

• Husband - seriously, he's really my number one.
• James Alexander Mackenzie Fraser and look here too
• Phil Mickelson - I have a think for nerdy golfers
• Mel Gibson - I'm thinking Braveheart here

Favorite Books

• Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
• Oops, really I'm all about Diana at the moment. Sorry. But you can see what I like to read by going here
  

Random Favorite Things

• Chardonnay in the summer
• Cabernet in the winter
• Starbucks grande skinny caramel latte
• Time alone with my husband (although ask me again in 4 years when we're empty nesters...maybe I'll want some kid time)
• Tiramisu
• Shoes shoes shoes...and hangbags

Now I'm supposed to tag others...
Judith at Chez Spud
Liz at The Fragrant Muse
Hit 40 at Sane Without Drugs
Michel at Facts are Strictly Optional
Sharon at Dances with God

thanks for playing!

Don't forget to keep up the Pharmacy questions...I'm working on fridays post

Questions from a VEG

Well, B did it. And VEG did it. Extranjera too. And since we all know I really want to belong, I'm doing it too.

Here are the questions VEG gave me:

1. Given the overload of girls in your home, did you ever wish for a boy?
Ummm, when I was pregnant with #2 (that is now #6) I thought it would kinda be cool. But my sister always said she imagined me with 3 daughters. Now that I have twice that amount I can say I'm happy I didn't have boys. I mean, the equipment is so different, and they are loud and smelly and like to fart at the table... Don't get me wrong, I love my nephews, but boys are so...so...boyish. Give me a princess and a tiara and puppies and kittens over toads and bugs any day.

2. If you had to give one up, would it be Starbucks or wine?
Haha yeah right. Actually, funny you should ask. Over Lent this year I was supposed to give up Sbux on tuesday, thursday, and saturday, and wine the opposite days. Ummm, never happened. I gave up soda 2 years ago for Lent and stuck with it. I think I've probably had 3 sodas since then, all of them recently and all of them because there was nothing else readily avialable. The first one was in feb on a cruise that was very choppy, I had a ginger ale to calm my stomach.
So no. I refuse to give up either one. Sorry. Aint gonna happen.

3. Name one thing you really regret and wish you could do over again.
This one is tough. I guess I'd say I wish I could take back all the mean things I've said or thought about people. Everyone is just trying to make it in this crazy world, I hate that I have been catty.

4. Do you ever wish you lived somewhere else?
Only every freaking day. I long for some excitement. Although if you made me pick a place I really wouldn't know where I'd pick. I think that's why I love to travel so much, but I think the grass is always greener on the other side. Plus there are good points and bad points about everything. If you find Utopia let me know and I'll live there...

5. What are your hobbies?
I do a lot but I don't do anything well. I like to shop, read, workout, and scrapbook. I just started (TODAY) piano lessons, I like wasting way too many hours blogging and reading everyone elses blogs. I enjoy my walks with the dogs, both solo and with my friends. I enjoy wine with my husband by the pool.
BUT really with this maternity leave I'm taking over and watching my nephews while my lucky duck sister is roaming around Scotland, I really don't have time to do any of that.

That's about it for me!
Want to play too and be part of the cool kids? Let me know and I'll send you some questions too!

Pharmacy Friday #3 (on Sunday)

This past friday I had an extremely stressful day at the pharmacy. As you my know, I don't have my own pharmacy, I do relief work. Most days I love it; I set my own schedule, I work only when I want shoes a paycheck, and I only work at stores that I like the techs and the customers. I tend to go to the same pharmacies over and over, so a good proportion of the patients know who I am and trust me with their medications.

But this post isn't about me. This is about you. Yes, you. Doesn't everyone go to a pharmacy, at least occasionally if not monthly? Well, maybe if you or your husband is a doctor, then you probably have samples, but for the most part I think a pharmacy has to be at least a small part of your life.

My plea is this: PLEASE DON'T ASK YOUR PHARMACIST TO BREAK THE LAW FOR YOU.

You may be thinking "Me? I'd never do that!" But I wonder if you realize how many times we get asked to do just that.

• Your little sleeping pill that you didn't realize you were out of refills. I can't fill that without the docs ok. I know he's going to say yes, you know he's going to say yes, but I need it authorized offically before I can give it to you. I'm sorry.
• This also goes for the sweet little old lady that I know is not an addict. I really am sorry, but I'm not willing to risk my shoes license over a couple alprazolam.
• To the druggie: I know you're seeking, I know what to look for, I know how to spot a fake script (sometimes I am fooled, mostly I am not). I will not fill it. Furthermore, I will not give it back to you if I can prove it has been altered.  

Here's a good one (and partly the reason for my bad day on Friday).

• If you are going out of town, please take care of medication refills a week ahead of time. I can call the insurance company and get an overide, BUT I might not have time to take care of it right this second. Also, it usually takes a day or two for the insurance co to get it to go thru. And thirdly, while I value you as a patient, you are not my only one. Please understand that I have several things going on at any one time.

And most importantly, KNOW THE LAWS FOR CONTROL DRUGS.

• Heres the scenario: Your son as ADHD and is on a C2 (that's a narcotic that has the strictest laws for dispensing...there are no legal C1s). States differ in their laws regarding C2s and your pharmacist has to abide by those laws. There are also Federal Laws, but if the state law is stricter, then that's the one that has to be followed.
• In my state, C2 prescriptions are only good for 7 days. That's it, no exceptions.
• The C2 rx MUST be handwritten...NO FAXES!! Hospice and emergencies are exceptions, but I'm not talking about those right now.

SOOO, LETS PUT THE STORY TOGETHER:

• I get a faxed C2 rx for an ADHD med that I can not fill.
• This is not hospice or an emergeny
• I call the doc and tell her that I am not filling it.
• She says the mother brow beat her (I'm sorry, which one of you is the professional? ) into writing and faxing the script, but it was my call if I wanted to fill it or not.
• Apparently the family was leaving on vacation and needed the rx, but the mother did have time to drive to get the written prescription.
• I'm sorry, this is my fault how exactly?? How long have you known you were going on vacation?
• I've had a run in on this same issue with this same biotch woman in the past. She says the regular pharmacist would fill it. So I guess I'm irregular?
• I told her I thought it was extremly rude that she'd even ask the regular pharmacist to break the law, but I wasn't doing it.

Here's the facts:

• Does anyone really care? Ummm, only the pharmacist whose license is on the line.
• Do they really take licenses away for that? Maybe not the first time, first there will be a fine, maybe a suspension. It really depends on how many times it happens and how serious the offense is.
• How often do they check? That depends on several things. But at any given time a federal or state agent can come in and check your logs. C2s better be accounted for.
• If I'm not going to break the law for my own husband on his sleeping meds I'm certainly not going to do it for YOU.

I hope this wasnt too harsh sounding and cranky, but it really irritates me that some people think I'm just being mean when I wont give them what they want. It has nothing to do with how I feel about a patient as a person. Pharmacists work very hard to get where they are. Some will bend the rules, some will not. Some go to jail, some do not.

Do you ever get asked to break the law? How would you handle it?

All About the Shoe Love

What is it about that perfect pair of shoes? You know the ones I mean. They are the shoes that can lift your spirits just by the sight of them. The ones that bring back memories of the perfect date. Or maybe they're the ones that inspire dreams of your perfect day, perfect job, perfect life. Whether that day is spent shopping, lunching with friends, out on the town, or the underbelly of a cruise ship, the shoes are an integral part of your life.

Recently several posts (here I'm combining everyone into the Blog Campers, actual or fantasizing, rather than name everyone) have been talking shoes. Chucks to be acurate.Yellow Chucks. As I've said before, I have purchased many pairs of Chucks in all different sizes and colors, however I have yet to own a pair of my own. Therefore I must be content with the shoes I can find in my own closet.

I don't consider myself a shoe freak. I'm not the type of woman that gets stopped on the street and asked about her shoes. However I often will stop other women and comment on their shoes, so maybe that makes me a freak after all.
I'm also not a brand hound on shoes the way I am with other things (jeans, handbags, makeup, cereal, wine...) but they do have to be decent shoes. I've bought my fair share of crappy shoes and they just don't last. But you have to admit, there is something orgasmic wonderful about buying those shoes you've been wanting needing eyeing for weeks. Actually, I do have one pair of Prada shoes. I have also purchased both Manolo's and Jimmy Choo's, but had to send them back. Europeans must have small feet!! Ahh well, at least they were mine for a day.
As a pharmacist, I am on my feet 8-10 hours a day. Very rarely during the day do I actually get the chance to sit down and give my feet a rest. Therefore, a good deal of my shoes are loafers, flats, sketchers, and sneakers. But I crave love heels. There's something about the way my legs look when I'm wearing heels that brings out my inner Audrey Hepburn. All I need is the little black dress and the pearls and I'm set.
Since yellow Chucks were the inspiration for this post, I feel obligated to show you my favorite (and only) yellow shoes.

If I were going to name brands, I'd say they were BCBG, but that's not the important part. What is important is that I was shopping with husband (and probably a couple teenagers) in Louisville, KY. I saw these shoes and they called out to me. JUMPED out at me actually. I initially wasn't going to purchase them, but I couldn't help it. I had to. These are actually the only shoes I can remember anyone commenting on...of course I was wearing pink fishnet pantyhose at the time (it's a long story, but a pretty cute costume).

These shoes (Anne Kline) were another impulse buy. It was late fall, heading into winter. I loved the red plaid, and I loved the black lace over the top. These shoes needed to be in my closet, and I needed to make them feel loved. This purchase occured probably 2 years ago. I've worn them once, but I love them and am ever hopeful of finding occasion to wear them again. Holiday party anyone?

Oddly enough, I bought these Micheal Kors shoes thinking I probably wouldn't wear them much, but I ended up wearing them several times last fall. Maybe it's the wedge shape, but they are really comfortable. Well, not pharmacist comfy, but definitely shopping comfy. And I love the brown zebra stripe. They are the perfect fall shoes, and Autumn is definitely my season. Oddly enough, I found a handbag that matches perfectly. Must be kismet.

These Coach shoes were also an accident. Well, like my mom says about me, they were a "pleasant surprise." I was out shopping with husband and teenagers and my jeans were just an inch or so too long. Like any sensible woman, I have jeans I wear with heels and jeans I wear with flats. Unfortunately, like any modern woman, I was waaay behind on laundry, so all my shorter jeans were dirty. It was making me insane with rage that my jeans kept dragging on the ground, so I went into a store, saw these, and bought them. Actually with the wooden heel I didn't think they'd be an important part of my wardrobe, but they turned out to be a great pair of shoes, and, like myself 30-something years ago, have become an integral part of the family.

Just Real Quick

Woke up this morning to find this little guy on the driveway. I thought he was pretty cool. And he reminded me of Julochka and the picture she would take. I'm not quite the photographer she is, but I still liked it. I'm wondering why his shell isn't upright though...maybe he's tired?
Anyway, off to take many many many raging hormonal teenagers (ok 3) out to lunch. Thank GOD I'm working tomorrow...and all next week. I need a break from home life.

It's All About Attitude

Today many of my cyber friends have been doing a list of 10 simple things that make them happy. I'm trying to remember everyone so if I left someone out I'm totally sorry. These people find joy in the little things that I often take for granted, so if you have time be sure to check out the Optimistic Pessimist (well she stole all hers, but it's still a good list!), VEG, Her Royal Magesty TFM, Extranjera, Julochka, the never forgettable Ali
I know we all love lists, so lets go!

• I'm so thankful for my new washer and dryer! My old one was only 10 years old, but I guess that's the life of them these days. I want to say "now if I just had someone to do laundry for me life would be great" but I'm not gonna say that because this is a happy post. Anyway, my new w/d are Pine Green and that makes me happy.

• I love opening the garage door and seeing that husband is already home
• I love napping during a raging thunderstorm
• I love the sound of silence after a busy day
• I just realized I already did this post...here and here so I might as well stop.

At least you got to look at my brand spanking new pine green washer and dryer!!

Book Worms Unite

Ok, I hope you all aren't sick of book lists, but I thought mine was important because NO ONE has mentioned my favorite author. But first let me just say that Julochka, Bee, Polly, and Gidget have already done theirs and that's where I got the inspiration. Many of my favorite books are already listed in the four posts mentioned above, so I'm not planning on boring you with those. Plus you should also know that BOTH my aunt and uncle were librarians, so I always had a good resource if I needed a book to read.

Lets get on with it.

Childhood Faves (and by this I mean high school and younger)

• Anything by Judy Blume


• Anything by Stephen King


• A Wrinkle in Time series -Madeline L'Engle


• Watership Down - Richard Adams


• Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austin


• Paddington Bear books - Michael Bond


• The Nine Days to Christmas - Mary Hall Ets and Aurora Labastida
  


• I remember reading a lot of Erma Bombeck, but I don't think I got the full effect until after I had kids.

Authors I can always count on

• Ann Patchett


• Jodi Picoult


• John Grisham


• Robin Cook


• Michael Crichton

Non-Fiction Favorites

• How Not to Look Old - Charla Krupp (remember that I'm the narcisister)


• What Not to Wear - Trinny Goodall and Susannnah Constantine


• The Year of Living Biblically - AJ Jacobs (very funny read...)


• Drug Facts and Comparisons - ok I haven't actually read all this book, but its the pharmacists bible

Miscellaneous Loves

• The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath


• Chocolat - JoAnn Harris


• Love in the Time of Cholera - Gabriel Garcia Marquez


• Catch 22 - Joseph Heller


• My Antonia - Willa Cather


• The Handmaids Tale - Margaret Atwood


• No Exit - Jean-Paul Sartre


• Le Petit Prince - Antoine De Saint-Exupery


• To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee

Partially read books that I liked

• The Iliad


• The Odyssey


• Don Quixote de la Mancha - Cervantes

And NOW for my VERY Favorite Book Series EVER

It's the Outlander Series by Diana Gabaldon. I think in the UK it's called Cross Stitch.

Ok, I admit it. It's usually found in the Romance section. This totally turned me off at first. Romance? Me? Ummm, no. But a friend suggested reading it so I grudgingly did. Oh. My. God. I couldn't put it down. When I started reading the series there were only 3 books, now there are 6 with a 7th one set to be published in the fall. I have recommended this book to many, many friends (there was actually 1 friend that didn't like it, everyone else did). I even got my sister into the series (and this is a woman with a PhD in mucosal immunology). There are blogs and communities and people really all into these books. It is really well written. Gabaldon does a fabulous job making the characters and places come alive. It's the type of book in which you can totally lose yourself. I can not even count the times I've read the first book. It's my go-to book when I'm sad. Or happy. Or pensive. Or procrastinating. Or depressed. Or elated...you get my drift. The 3rd book is another I'll open over and over. Anyway, just give them a shot. I promise you won't be disappointed.

Here they are:

• Outlander


• Dragonfly in Amber


• Voyager


• Drums of Autumn


• The Fiery Cross


• A Breath of Snow and Ashes


• An Echo in the Bone - due out this september (hooray!!)

Now. I have to go read. Seriously. Jamie is calling to me. You'll see...

PS- I hate Blogger formatting

PPS- I had a great photo, but now I can't find the stinking cord to get it to my laptop from my camera. I think this means I need a new nikon :)

Mini Post: The Calm Before the Storm

As anyone with kids knows, there are varying degrees of cleanliness. I'd like to expound on that, alas I have 20 minutes before I have to meet husbands childhood friend, and I have yet to shower. No doubt this will be a quickie.

Daughter number 5 is a mess. I've posted about her before. I love her dearly, but she makes me want to pull my hair out. Or perhaps dig my eyes out with a spoon. She makes me nuts. Thank God for Effexor. And wine. Lots of it.

Today, daughters number 1 and 6 are cleaning 5's room. It's disgusting. Too disgusting to post a photo. Maybe we will get an after shot, haven't decided yet. The point is, #5 is 16 years old and has raging hormones. The news that her sisters cleaned her room will not be recieved with grace. Especially because I have agreed to pay these children to do it. Pay them a lot. But in truth, I'm paying for my sanity.

Anyway, will post more after number 5 see's her room. Stay on guard...

Pharmacy Friday #2

Top 4 Things You Should Know About Your Drugs

1: Know Your Drugs
Seriously. I can't tell you how many times someone has called and said they need their little white pill. Umm, that could be about a thousand different drugs. Try to learn the name. It's not extremely necessary, but it's helpful. However, we know that some of them can be hard to pronounce. At the very least know what it's for. If you call up and say you need your blood pressure pill and I say "you're lisinopril?" A good answer is "Yes, that's it." Not "I dunno"
Plus, it's important to know what you're on if you ever have to go to the hospital.

2: Know When to Take Your Medicine
Depending on which medications you are on, timing can be important.

• Some meds need to have food to work properly- Calcium needs the acid in your stomach to break down correctly, so you need to take it with food
• Other meds need an empty stomach- Prevacid needs to be taken 30 min before meals
• Other meds work better at night- like most cholesterol meds - but not all of them so you need to ask!
• Some need to be taken in the morning - Fosamax needs to be taken first thing in the morning on an empty stomach with a full glass of tap water (yes, tap water)
• Others need to be taken at the same time every day -birth control pills work much better --especially as we age-- if you stay right around 24hrs apart

3: Know What to Avoid While On Your Medicine
These can vary greatly depending on what meds you are taking. Some you need to totally avoid, some you only need to separate by a couple hours. The list is pretty long, but here are some common pitfalls:

• Grapefruit juice needs to be totally avoided if it interacts with your medicine, not just separated by a couple hours.
• Antacids need to be separated by a couple hours if you are on some antibiotics
• Alcohol is a tricky one. Many labels say to avoid it, but some are more serious than others. Confused? Ask your pharmacist!
• Smoking can be dangerous with some medications, mainly estrogens. Seriously, you could die.

4:Know What to Expect From Your Meds

It's important to know what kinds of side effects might occur when you start a new medication. This is especially true with kids. Again, side effects will vary. Some will last the whole time you are on the medication and some will ease up once your body gets used to it. Here are just a couple examples:

• Omnicef, an antibiotic, will make your childs poo reddish in color. That can be scary if you aren't expecting it!
• Steroids can increase your heart rate. Again, scary if you don't know it's gonna happen.
• Ambien will make you fall asleep -- DO NOT try to drive after you take it!

Keepsake Award

Gidget from Figeting Gidget awarded me with my very first award, the Keepsake Blog Award. I am totally excited because it's nice to be validated, and we all know I need that. Thanks so so much FG for thinking of me!

Here are the rules:
1. Post a funny or sweet keepsake that tells something about you

I thought long and hard about what I should post. At first I was going to post a picture with me and my 2 kids (yes, there are 6 total, 4 of them are my Bonus children). Of all the hats I wear, Mom is by far the best. It's the hardest sometimes, and often I'll tell the girls "I quit" but, as most of you are moms (or moms-to-be) you know it is a forever job and the love is unconditional. But I figured that was too easy. Then I thought about posting a picture of Husband. Wife is also a hat I wear daily and with pride. But I have mentioned Husband in posts before, plus we all have, have had, or will have a spouse (or partner), so I decided against posting one of him. Then today the photo I wanted to post dawned on me. I spent 2 hours searching for a photo of me and my Dad. Not just any photo, but one that was taken in June 2003. I love that photo. I can't find a digital copy anywhere and it's making me nuts. Luckily I have a copy in a scrapbook so at least it's not gone forever. That photo was one of the last ones taken of the two of us before he died. I do have a few more of us from my wedding, but the wedding was about me. The photo I'm speaking of was about us. Alas. It's not here. *sigh*

However I did find one of my Mom and Dad. This photo was taken approximately 7 months before he died.
The reason why I wanted to post a photo of my Dad was because I think it tells a lot about who I am. And actually having my Mom in there adds to it as well. I am my parents child, and as they say the nut doesn't fall far from the tree. Since my dad is the one gone from this scenario I'm going to focus on him, just know that I am also very much like my Mom. Although Husband will tell you that I'm not enough like her (I don't dote on him the way my mom did on my dad). My Dad craved adventure. He was into cars, trains, airplanes, or anything that could get him from Point A to Point B. He traveled all over the world. He liked espionage. My parents were planning a trip that would take them from DC to Russia with many 'secret spy' stops along the way (think CIA, KGB and the like). Unfortunately he did not get to take that trip. He liked martini's before dinner and wine with dinner (except he liked real martinis, I drink cosmos). He was definitely a techie. We were the first people I knew that had a microwave (yes, I am that old), a cordless phone (it pretty much sucked, but we had it), a throughout the house intercom system, etc. He had a computer and a cell phone before I did. He loved his toys until the day he died. He liked kids and I remember his playing with us often, but I think he liked us much better as we got older. Well, minus my pre-teen years. They were rough on the whole family I think. I wasn't the favorite child -- I was the youngest (read: spoiled, bratty, did whatever I wanted, etc), but I am so thankful that he was proud of the woman I became. I'm not really sure I know what I believe as far as an after life is concerned, but sometimes I like to think he's watching over us. And I know he'd be proud of me, my kids (*cough* most days), and the life I'm living. So, Dad, this Keepsake Award is for you.

2. Pass this award on to 10 other bloggers you think are keepers

Picking 10 would be impossible so I have another plan. The way I see my cyber world is that there is this group of (mainly) women who I can totally relate to. This world centers around several of my favorite bloggers, and they all follow each other. Yes, I'm talking about the Blog Campers. I see these women as the center of my universe with Julochka at the helm. I have heard her referred to as the Queen of the Blogosphere (sorry I can't link that, I'm not sure who it was). Anyway, my point is that I'd be showing you all links to the same circle I think most of my readers are already in. SOOOO what I decided to do is give this award to some other bloggers that don't have quite as big a readership (I mean Jul has 821 followers!). But just know that all the blogs I regularly comment on, you guys are all Keepers as far as I'm concerned too!!

Here it goes, check them out!

Barb at Sassy & Ginger Chronicals

CBT at What is a Carbunkle Trumpet and I hope I don't get any on my shoes!

Ninja Trish at Think Tank Public Relations and Marketing I linked the post on a ninja's right to shoes...read it!

Otin at Wizard of Otin

Loredana at Escape into My Thoughts for Just a Minute

Random Tuesday Thoughts

Does it really matter if my 400 cal breakfast comes from a Starbux cinnamon scone or Kashi Go Lean Crunch with Yoplait Vanilla yogurt? It's 400 calories either way. I wish I could unplug the pharmacy phone. Here's the deal: I'm covering a maternity leave. If I have to say "It's a boy 7 pounds 7 ounces 21 inches" one more time I'm gonna tattoo it to my head. Dove is right, chocolate therapy is oh so good. Who knew St. Louis got typhoons? Here's a weird sensation: heat coming from the pc all down my right leg, cold air from the ac down my right arm. I'm not sure if I should be hot or cold. When I was 13 I wanted to marry David Lee Roth. I heard he's a paramedic now. I HATE paypal. Don't ever use it. I screwed up this mornings sudoku and that sucks cuz A. tuesdays are easy and B. I did it in pen. Hooray it's 5pm and I want a glass of wine! I love England (people, history, tea, etc) HATE english ivy. Seriously, die already. Bad news: my sisters kitty died. Good news: my mom broke her hip 6 weeks ago and gets out of rehab at the end of the week! Hooray Mom! Don't you think pharmacies should have their own bathrooms? Storm blew over and now it's nice and sunny, just a tad humid. 94 yesterday 68 tmro -- classic st louis weather. What's for dinner? Who cares cuz we're eating out. Ciao Bella!