Summer times | this is me now

August 13, 2008

This used to be my playground

Filed under: home,Summer times — by heatherdc @ 8:14 am

The boys are back in town! (ooh, the old song references are flyin). After 10 days in Panama for vacation, my buddies have returned.

A. & I sat at our usual booth in Chili’s last night with our usual drinks. We watched Michael Phelps win yet another race, with that look of “Yah, I told ya so” on his face. Seriously, not one bit excited or surprised. Just, yup, I knew it. But thats okay, I guess when you hold the record for highest medals received, you can do things like that. Whatev Mikey, just keep swimming.

An hour later, the boys finally showed up. Due to their fashionably late entrance, and the fact that “Last call” on a week day here is like eleven (ehhhh), they just ordered two rounds straight up. A. & I happily sipped on, and we ended up being the last people there.

So, we’re deciding where to go, somewhere to just ‘hang out’, and somebody suggests a park. Huh. That’s one I haven’t tried in a while. And by a while, I mean like being 17 and thinking Oooomg there’s nothing to do here. Park? Whatever. That was pretty much the same train of thought we were all having at 22 as well. Interesting.

We show up at our old elementary, just for kicks. And because they have all these ridiculous new playground things, and you could really be entertained for hours. Well, if you’re like 5. Or a little buzzed off a cosmo. Not gonna lie, I had a great time. Slides, monkey bars (those are haaard!), climbing around, sprinklers goin’ off, a glider thingy, etc. It was great. Certainly an upgrade or two from what we had back in the day, but still the same playground. Good times.

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July 28, 2008

This is certainly no day “off”

Filed under: days off,home,Summer times — by heatherdc @ 1:04 am

We’re a liiittle short handed at the hospital lately. And by “a little short handed”, I mean we’ve basically been screwed in the last month. Two people quit in two weeks (completely unrelated, but still, Gaaah), one person is off on Maternity leave until September, and two people are on vacation right now. Um, this is not good.

Our July schedule has been redone about 10 times and I’m doing two jobs in one day most of the time. It’s a little ridiculous. And working Overtime hours seems to be more common than not. I’ve been lucky to still have my three days off for the last few weeks, not sure how I managed that one.

Tomorrow and Wednesday are my days “off” this week, but after making a little to-do list tonight I realized they will hardly be that. We have homework for the internship due on Friday, which I looked at tonight and wanted to scream. Yes, I’m aware it is my fault for leaving it til the last minute (ahhh how the F is almost August 1st already?!!). It will basically consume about half of my days off and the next few nights. Not. Fun.

Oh, and I had a few summer projects in the works…which are hardly close to being done. Remember how I wanted to redecorate the study? Yah, me neither. Want to what has been done? We bought the new book case and it’s sitting in the garage…still in the box. And we’ve cleaned out the study. Wheeew. Go us. But but but! I did see that the line of furniture we’re using is ON SALE at Target this week. Yayyy! We all know I take any excuse to go to Target. I’m happy.

I also started a College-Years scrapbook (not inspired by “Saved by the Bell: the college years”. Those were bad). It’s alllll Penn State and college wonderfulness. It’s been very fun to work on–obviously making me a little sad, and all kinds of nostalgic….but it also makes me so happy that I had such an amazing experience. So far I’m about half-way through my Sophomore year. Goooood times. The problem is that I want it finished before I leave because I know that I’ll have zero time to work on it once I start the program. Which gives me uhhh, 3 weeks? We’ll see.

Aaaand it’s still summer, right?? Barely, I know. I still want to read my book, and enjoy cooking fun dinners with my mom (and a drink), and go out once or twice with my buddies. And keep running (the one thing I manage to get done every time I want to. Good thing I have my priorities straight here.), and continue watching all seasons of S&TC (the Madre saw the movie, but has never seen the show. this has been fun!), and hang out with the siblings before I head back East, and Relaaaax. While I still can.

Hmmm. Wish me luck.

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July 24, 2008

They say after 21, it’s all downhill

Filed under: about me,getting old,Summer times — by heatherdc @ 1:19 am

So far I’ll disagree with that.

A year ago I was recovering from a typical “OMG I’m finallyyyy 21!” night. Whew, that was rough. But I had a greeeat time. Going out in a college town during the summer is ideal. You still have all the amazing bar specials, minus the crazy crowded atmosphere. Just enough people to make it fun, and to avoid waiting half an hour standing at the bar trying to get a drink. Gooood times.

Today I’m just enjoying the fact that I’m off from work, I’m home, and my mom is taking me out for lunch in a mountain town with the best shops to browse. Then we have appointments for some much needed mani/pedis. Yessssss. My feet could use some serious attention, they’ve been workin overtime.

I certainly don’t feel 22. I’m still absorbing the fact that I can say “I have a degree in ___” in conversations. And that I’m going to “Grad” school. So weird. A year from now who knows where I’ll be living, or what jobs I’ll be applying for. Well, with *fingers crossed* that I survive the internship. I guess we should take it one thing at a time….

It’s definitely still an uphill climb for me over here. Still learning, still saving money because I can’t make any for the next year, and still enjoying the fact that–for now–I can soak up the luxuries of living at home.

Hello, 22. We’re startin’ off strong, I think you’ll be good to me.

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July 7, 2008

Hangin’ at Havana Beach

Filed under: hangin' out with the siblings,holidays,Summer times — by heatherdc @ 1:22 am

LB’s friends have this expression “______’s (insert name) in London!!”
They use this to describe somebody who is faaaar gone. Meaning drunk. Veryyyy drunk.
You have left the sober world, and entered, uhhh London?
You get it, right? Right.

We had a 4th of July party on Friday at our casa. Lots of family friends, food, drinks, water-balloon launching off our deck…you know, the works.

And where was I on Friday night? Oh, I was hangin’ at Havana Beach.

((Recipe: Rum, pineapple juice, and a splash of ginger ale))

After about five too many drinks, it was definitely an interesting fiesta. And an interesting day at the hospital on Saturday. Ehhhhh. I had to take a 20 minute nap in a “meditation room” (how appropriate, I know), because I barely had the energy (coordination, balance….) to walk from room to room. Seriously, Not Good.

According to my sister, when you wake up saying “Omg, I’m never drinking. Ever. Again.”…..that’s when you know you had a good night! Ha. Not so sure I agree, but we’ll roll with it…. 😉

Even though I wasn’t allowed to hold a sparkler, it was a fun little party. It’s kind of a tradition around our house to have a ‘summer’ party-whether it’s at the beginning, for the 4th, or in August. This is the first time in a few years that we’ve all been able to come home for this weekend, so we went all out. Unfortunately I was also working every day, but I survived.

Yes, this last one is juuust in case you were wondering what exactly a ‘water balloon launcher’ is. Um, it’s exactly what it sounds like. And what is the boy’s faaavorite activity at dinner parties? Launching water balloons. Yup. Actually, it’s really entertaining to watch. Sometimes they go about two feet and get them all soaked. Sometimes it goes about 300 yards and we are all like “oooooh”. Sometimes it hits the target they are aiming for (shed at the park, down below), and then we’re Really impressed.

p.s. I’m in the white, the Sis is in green. Yes, we look alike.

Anyway.
Hope you all had a funnnn holiday weekend!

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July 4, 2008

Easy as 1-2-3

Filed under: baking,holidays,recipes,Summer times — by heatherdc @ 1:36 am

We always have a ‘desert’ around the kitchen. It’s dangerous, really, but mmmm So good.

I’m not a huuge fan of brownies, just because I get sick of the chocolate taste. Really, just a liiittle too much. So I’d rather mix it up a little bit. Peanut butter on top? Walnuts? Caramel drizzle? It all works. It’s all delicious.

Little did I know, hiding on the back of the Betty Crocker Brownies box….is the most amazing recipe brownie recipe everrrr (sick of hearing the word ‘brownie’ yet?). Just sitting right there in front of me, all this time. I never noticed it, until last week……

Cookies n’ Cream Brownies

Click here to get the recipe. Basically, it goes like this….

1) Mix and Bake the brownies as directed. (Only exception: use a 13 x 9 pan)

2) Cover the top with vanilla frosting. Go crazy, use as much as you want.

3) Top it off with crumbled “chocolate cream-filled sandwich cookies”. Aka: Oreos!!!! Gah, I love Oreos. They can seriously do no wrong. If a recipe involves Oreos, it should come with a warning::watch out, get what you want now! Because Heather will consume ALL of it.

Looking for a quick and easy desert for a 4th BBQ…here ya go! Who doesn’t love brownies? And really, who doesn’t love Oreos?

Happy 4th of July!

Now, go make a drink and have a brownie. Yummm.

June 17, 2008

My Weekend

Filed under: Summer times,what to do with time OFF — by heatherdc @ 2:20 am

After working Friday & Saturday, then having Sunday off (yay! Celebrate Dad!), and then working today….I Finally have “my” weekend. Oh, goooood stuff!.

Yes, I realize that Tuesday is not your typical “let’s go out and get drinks and be hungover all day tomorrow just to do it again!!” weekend day. But for now, it’s my weekend day. Along with Wednesday, followed by Thursday. That’s right, in the middle of your typical work week, I get a nice loong break. Granted, I’ll be slavin’ away again while most are enjoying the above-mentioned Friday night. But I’m not thinking about that right now.

Instead–I’m thinking of a trip to Target, a few good afternoon runs, finding a new book to read (any suggestions???), and coming up with a dinner menu because I looove to cook at night. I also want to find a good recipe for an Apple Cake with cream cheese frosting. Random, I know. But how good does that sound?! Mmmm. Plus, I could use a change from the Cookies’n’Cream ice-cream thats taken over my desert choice. Dangerously tasty, especially with a drizzle of chocolate syrup. Yummmm.

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June 4, 2008

Four Tens, instead of Five Eights?

Filed under: jobs,Summer times — by heatherdc @ 12:44 am

Today I barely survived a deathly boring 8 hours of Orientation, and “traditions”, and policies, and procedures, and safety, and Core values, and ahhhhhh. We were stuck in one room for breakfast, four hours of presentations, lunch, and four more hours of presentations. Oh, and it wasn’t air conditioned. Oh, AND we are in the desert. It was really fun. Really. It was.

No it wasn’t.

I was actually not a pleasant person at 4 o’clock when it was over. Not. at. all. The only interesting pieces of information presented to me were pictures of the brand new section of the hospital (whoa, gorgeous! nice work architects and construction-people! Kudos to you.). And some good stories here and there of how the oh-so-wonderful staff have used the Core Values to make some magic happen. In all honesty, good stories.

Anyway. It’s over and I made it. I was one of two summer interns, and we were among about 15 other people there who were “permanent hires”. They tried to tell us that we had to come back to the same room tomorrow at 9 a.m. to fill out paper work and I almost had to get violent. Noooo way. Turns out, we the “interns” actually didn’t need to come back, but need to report to our departments tomorrow at 8 a.m. Whew, close call.

So, when I got home I called my department to get some details. Well turns out that they were wrong too. Instead, I have to be there at SEVEN a.m. Ehhhhh. That’s very early. Oh, and I work until 5:30. And my response (inside my head, obviously. No need to freak out via phone call…) was….umm…whaaaat?!

I happily professionally responded “Oh, OK. Yah! That’s fine!” Then was told that I could wear scrubs, which honestly makes everything better. Because who doesn’t want to wear scrubs?! It’s like getting to wear comfortable pajamas with sneakers to work every day. And while I do like looking snazzy in cute “business casual”, nobody can pass up the opportunity to wear comfy scrubs. Seriously. Awesome.

I had to ask….”So, will my schedule be 7-5:30 every day?”. Here’s what I got…

“Oh, no. On Thursday you’ll come in from 9-7:30.”

Okay, I see. 10 hour days it is then. And apparently on Thursdays I get to sleep in until about 7:30 like a normal person. Oh, and I get to wear scrubs! (trying to focus on positive things here….)

At first I wasn’t excited about the 10-hr day starting at seven in the morning. So…four ten hour days, instead of five eights….

Then, the more I thought about it, the more I like the idea of three day weekends, every weekend. And a week that only consists of four days. I think I can handle this.

At least I’ll be able to catch “What Not to Wear” once a week, right? And lay on the deck in the afternoon reading (and sipping on tasty drinks) for three whole afternoons every weekend. Alright, at least I have time for my priorities.