Addicted

Apparently, to shopping. And apparently, it doesn't have to be just shopping for myself. In the last few weeks I've bought my dad a ton of clothing and some new stuff for Matt. What can I say? I really like buying people presents. So while I was at it, I got Susan some birthday gifts, a few things for my mom, a fridge for our new summer house, and a shitload of crap for myself which included a bunch of dresses (since when do I ever wear dresses?), some skirts (or skirts?), a couple of tops, two bathing suits, some shorts, and some other stuff that I'm sure I don't remember right now.

Plus, I just booked that trip to Ireland... which honest to God was the largest purchase I ever made except for buying my last car.

Oh man-- what ever happened to saving up so I can move out of my parents' house? I did manage to schedule *one* overtime shift onto my next work schedule... so even though I don't want to think about working any extra days over those I'm required to schedule, I feel better knowing that in a couple of weeks, I'll be making up for the damage I've been doing lately to my bank account. And if this one overtime shift goes well, maybe I'll figure out that it's not such a big deal to schedule *two* overtime shifts in the schedule after that.

Sheesh. Growing up and facing maturity sucks. But having to live with your parents forever because you have no control over your spending sucks even more.

Muffin Top

I know you know what is. And we all know that it's horrible. Thankfully I will spare you from a photograph of *my* muffin top, but I thought it educational and amusing to share with all my fans that size M scrubs are a bit of a stretch for me to fit into. This was discovered recently when I bent over at work a couple of times and each time my jelly belly caused my pants to comepletely roll down to neatly rest below the gutline. Attractive indeed.

It would appear that a few more pairs of size L scrubs are in need.

Just Call Me Granny

Because I threw my back out. And it wasn't doing anything heroic like saving a patient... or even from anything industrious like cleaning my house. It actually happened while I was sitting on the toilet this morning.

I really do amaze myself sometimes. I think I'm the only 25 year old whose back gives out while taking a dump. God, I'm pathetic. Next thing I know, I'll break a limb while watching television or something. Man... if that's going to be what I have to look forward to, imagine the damage possible from something the least bit more active, like cooking... or sex. Hell, I don't even want to think about it.

So, while popping ibuprofen and leaning against a heating pad have given me a little bit of relief, I am still having difficulty getting up from a sitting or laying position, and walking isn't completely comfortable. I'm supposed to work tomorrow, too, which I know will only make matters worse. So for the first time since last January, I'm calling in sick... I don't want to add insult to injury while trying to lift people and clean up poopy diapers and reach for stuff and whatever else at the hospital.

Man oh man am I a piece of work. I guess I really am high maintenance. Sigh.

Twister

It's a bird! It's a plane! No... it's a State Trooper!

Stay calm Noodle Fans, I was not injured in yesterday's ridiculous tornado that blew through Westchester. It's true I was just a hop, skip and jump away from where it touched down (so close that one of the nurses in the ER told me she saw the funnel), but me, my entire family and all of my friends and coworkers were fortunately unscathed. As were most people in Westchester County at the time, thank God. The hospital did try to prepare for the worst though, so the ER kind of went through "emergency mode" emptying out all the beds to make room for anyone possibly injured from the building that collapsed nearby. And actually, they really did go crazy-- when they sent up a patient, all I knew about her was her name and that she was on oxygen therapy... and that she had to stay on the stretcher in the hall since there wasn't a bed available just yet on my unit. Sheesh!

Funny thing, though. Even though nobody was hurt, I didn't realize it was such a bad storm until after my shift ended. I was battling myself about whether or not I should go to the gym and at the last minute decided that even though I didn't want to, I should go. But as I left the hospital campus and drove off, I discovered that the road leading to near my gym was blocked off by a police barricade. I was secretly thrilled. Until I learned that it was blocked because a store down the road had been literally blown to bits by the tornado, and that across the street from the gym a truck had been slammed into a bunch of gas pumps and they were disabling the pumps to avoid an explosion.

Man, that was enough excitement for me. I guess I'm just really glad I don't live in the Midwest.

Caught

Word to the wise-- besides the age-old advice to avoid the clap, Noodle fans should also be warned that taking a nap in the buff next to a window with partially drawn shades when workmen are all over the place painting and making repairs is a bad idea. Unless you want to wake up to some old wrinkly dude standing on the back porch and staring at your tits while you're snoozing. Shudder.

Also, when fumbling around on the floor beside a bed mid-coitus, it's pretty important not to stand up and spend too much time staring out an open window and directly into the eyes of an entire crowd hanging out and having a beer who are quite obviously staring right back at you.

Sigh. Boston has totally seen me naked.

Congratulations Are In Order

For a bunch of my friends, life is about to get a TON more exciting!

That's right-- Denise is pregnant and will be having a baby in December, Tim is engaged and will be getting married a year from this August, and Melissa and Brian just got engaged (finally), too!

Hoorah to all of you! What wonderful news!!

Crank Pot

I don't know if it's the heat, the fact that work is stressful and some of the people I work with are amazingly dumb, or that I'd rather be anywhere but home with my parents when my friends are all a giant drive away (ie: an hour or more for most, which by my standards is too far), but I'm cranky.

Actually... I'm always cranky lately. Poo.

Not that I'm trying to be. I'm really honestly trying to be normal even, but for some reason, I just can't shake it. Oh well. Maybe something exciting needs to happen in my life. Good exciting though-- not any of that "oh crap!" exciting business. That I can do without.

Anyhow, hopefully I'll shake it soon. For my sake and for yours!

Mmmmmm

Just thought I'd share with all you Noodle fans this amazing view of congealed-cheddar-cheese-on-fries that I had to look at this past Monday night at the diner when I was there with my friends. And don't forget those fingers you see are not falsely hovering above the mess-- Lynn was still eating it. Ew. Heh.