Waxing Moon

After the fireworks I headed home to check on my dog, Zeb. He wasn't too happy with the firecrackers and other small explosions around the neighborhood. I let him out and was stuck by the brightness of the moon. After being so cloudy earlier in the day, it was a clear, cool night. Here's the waxing moon on July 4th, it'll be a big full moon in a few days (July 7th).

4th of July Celebration with Friends

The day started out cloudy and rainy. Not any massive thunder storms, just a consistent rainfall. I was wondering if it would clear up in time for the much anticipated trip to Sonic to watch fireworks with my good friends Cris and Paul.

I spent the majority of the day just lounging and not doing anything constructive. I checked my e-mail and played on the computer while watching a show on the History channel about the Revolutionary War and creation of our country. It's amazing that the United States actually came into existence. There were so many obstacles in the way of the birth of our nation...including the lack of cooperation between the individual states.

By early evening the sky had cleared and it looked good for seeing the display. I was able capture a few photos of the festivities. I was only using a small digital camera, but, was able to get a few decent pictures of the explosives!


Happy Birthday, America...and here's to another 233 years!!!

Happy Father's Day

Here's to having a great weekend for all those fathers out there. I'm going to be going to see my dad, Doug, on Saturday to celebrate. Mom and I are taking him out to a local place to have ribs and the fixin's. A treat not only for him, but for us as well...what a bonus. Besides, what do you buy a man that has everything he needs, and gets himself what he wants?

Duchess of wonder

Miss you every day!

Lovely Breakfast

This was a wonderful breakfast...fresh blackberries, blueberries and strawberries in plain greek yogurt. Yummmmm!

Jewelry Show

This past Saturday I spent at the Bead Haven in Cedar Rapids, IA at a trunk show, featuring handcrafted jewelry and beads. I had a great time helping my friend, Cris, sell her silver jewelry. She has been making lovely pieces for several years. Through Cris I've met many fun, creative people: Cindi, Julie, Melissa, Jan, Rebecca and Jeannie to name a few. Cindi owns the bead store and has featured local artists by hosting frequent open houses and trunk shows. The boys, Paul and Rick, joined us later for supper at a local pizza restaurant. In all, I had a wonderful day...it's hard not to with this group of friends!

Trains and Dreaming

I'm not sure why, but I've been doing some vivid dreaming over the last few days. Maybe it was that really high fever that I was running, or maybe I have allot on my mind these days.
So, yesterday I was dreaming about being on railroad tracks. I have no idea why I was there and it seemed like someone else was there with me. The next thing I know there is a train barrelling down the tracks straight toward me. In the dream I was paralyzed. I could not move, even though I knew that I had to or the train was going to plow right into me. I kept yelling at myself "move, Suzi". Then, as dreams will do, the scene morphed from a flat railroad track into a track running on a bridge. It didn't seem very high, but to get off the tracks I was going to have to jump. I still couldn't move...I couldn't figure out how far I'd fall and I couldn't figure out how to crawl under the tracks to safety. All the while the train is coming closer and closer. It had even started blowing it's horn. Finally, at the last second, I must have jumped. The train was rumbling overhead and I was clinging to the beams under the track. It was at this point I awoke...it was like a scene out of an old western movie.
I suppose that there is some significance of trains in dream analysis. Maybe I'm afraid of being derailed in my current life. The real question is by what or whom??? Or, maybe I need to be able to "jump" into something that I've been afraid to start, but feel paralyzed to change. Could be a combo of the two...or neither. Maybe, I'll "google" dream analysis and trains!

Longing to be somewhere warm today.....

Oh, to be sitting on this beach in Maui when there's snow falling at home. I just wish I was there.


Sipping a Mai Tai!!!!

Working Night Shift Sleep Quandry

I've worked as a nurse for many years...and recently started working straight nights (11pm-7:30am). I'm trying to decide if this is a good choice or not. I currently find myself up at 3:00 in the morning on my day off...having slept the afternoon and evening away. I've been watching tv, surfing the internet, and not really doing anything productive. It does get hard to turn my schedule around on the weekends. But, that brings me to one of the benefits of this shift, I work Sunday through Thursday, which means I have every weekend off. That's something that most nurses can't say and would envy! I also get a significant shift differential, and have noticed a nice increase in my paycheck. I don't have to put up with much of the "politics" of the workplace. I could come up with several other benefits...but, sleep, that's the problem! Do I keep the same sleep hours on my days off...maintain the sleep during the day/up at night schedule, or change my days back to "normal" on my days off??? I've tried both and can't seem to decide. I really can't sleep all day on the weekends...or I wouldn't have any time to spend with friends and family. But, I seem to lose Fridays by sleeping much of the day hours away and go to bed that night to be up on Saturday morning. Hmmmm, that's the quandry...

View from Space

Here is a satellite view of President Obama's inauguration from GeoEye.com.

Impressive.

I don't know the final count of those that attended. But, I'm sure it will turn out to be historic, as was everything about this day.

Check out GeoEye's website...there are many other images to view.