Updates & All

It's been a busy week, mainly because I've been working every day while still managing to cook, exercise the pets, run, and get my required 8-9 hours of sleep a night. Yes, I require that much; if I get less my eyes get red, my face swollen, and I trip over my own feet.

So here goes- my updates in bullets:

• Work actually went smoothly- I don't have any patient stories but it's because I honestly can't remember any. After a while, they all start to blend together.
• I have not managed to study for the GRE but that's not surprising considering I'm a master procrastinator.
• I don't think I want to go to grad school - quite yet. Mainly because I really have no clue what I want to do (other than knowing that I don't want to be a nurse forever) and I don't need more student loan debt for something I'm not passionate about. Which leads me to...
• I've started looking into other RN jobs to apply for in the new year. My contract is up March 1 and I'd like to try something else...something that doesn't require paging doctors that never respond for orders, trying not to spill bedpans, and sucking copious amounts of mucus out of a stranger's mouth.
• I've got an idea for a new blog- one that will simultaneously fulfill a New Year's Resolution and make me a better person (or at least look like one)- and no, it has nothing to do with looks!
• I got new boots. That's right- rain/snow boots. My husband has turned me into a North Face whore (I never used to buy NF- too expensive) and now I'm in love with pretty much everything they make. I will be taking these to Seattle next week:

• As mentioned previously, I get to spend some time with my sister, brother-in-law, and nephew next week (this also means I get a break from work...double awesome)
• I'm up to 3.2 miles of running; not every time but I can manage it...which is good because the costume 5K is next week (stay tuned for the absurd candy my sister managed to get me to agree to dress up as)
• I purchased a Living Social deal for a box of fresh produce from a local delivery company, DoorStep Produce and it was well worth it. I chose the Fruit & Salad box and ended up with a hearty serving of fresh turnip greens, pears, apples, onions, tomatoes, green/red/orange peppers, cucumbers, squash, and zucchini.
• This evening I wanted to finish up the veggies from above mentioned salad box so I cut up the onions, tomatoes, zucchini, squash, and peppers, coated them with olive oil, salt, and pepper, and had AB toss them on the grill. I also cooked some 3 cheese tortellini with Ragu sauce and it made for a filling dinner (followed by the fabulous Apples & Pears Foster).

Apple & Pears Foster

AB and I received fresh local fruits and veggies from Doorstop Produce this past week, and in our box were some pears and apples. This evening we thought it might be nice to use them before they go bad (hey, it happens) so I found a recipe for Bananas Foster and substituted the pears and apples in for the bananas. Surprisingly, it worked well and made for a great dessert.

Recipe:

• 1/4 cup butter
• 2/3 cup dark brown sugar
• 3.5 tablespoons dark rum
• 1.5 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• Vanilla ice cream
• 1-2 small pears
• 1-2 small apples

1. Melt butter in saucepan over medium heat
2. Add brown sugar, dark rum, vanilla, and cinnamon
3. When mixture begins to bubble add fruit in
4. Stir/cook until fruit is hot and starts to soften
5. Pour directly over vanilla ice cream and serve