It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

I'm totally swamped today, but I need to list off a couple interesting tid bits. Firs off, there is this little dead end street I drive up every morning that my work parking lot is on, then I park in my spot, and if I make it to work early, I take a little snooze in my car. Not the most sane neighboorhood to do this in, but oh well. So, this morning nothing different...that I notice. I sleep for about 10-15 minutes in the car, my cell phone alarm goes off at 7:50am and I walk up to the clinic and meet Colleen and we go in together. Then about 7:35 the girls start coming in and I find out that a man was found lying dead at the end of the street we park off of two self-inflicted gun shot wounds. Found by our peds reception guy, David. Hmmm. Interesting.

Yesterday, I'm walking by Val's desk and she says, "Rach, you guys are really missing out on the new Carl's Jr. kids meal toys!" as she hands me this cool looking little yellow and silver metal flashlight. I fall for it, take it from her, push the on switch and get the shock of my day...Literally! It is a prank flashlight that sends a jolt through you when you try to turn it on. I screamed, it when hurtleing to the floor with enough force to break it, and I started slapping Val on the wrist as she and everyone else is busting out laughing. It was hysterical. We joked about it the rest of the day and still today.

Four years ago when I started working here, on a whim, I turned the bathroom light fixture cover upside down, decided I liked the ambience better, left the bathroom, and forgot about it. For some reason Monday morning I went in the bathroom and noticed it was still this way, so I turned it back around. Yes, four years later. It completely changes the lighting effect in the bathroom, and I'd just been waiting to hear about it. I guess people have been noticing for the last couple days the difference, but not quite sure what that difference it. Hysterical! Then Barb finally mentions it out loud and they all agree. I had told Carrie what I had done, and she gave me up. Here is the email I got from Barb this morning:


"Sooooooooo, it was YOU who "darkened" the bathroom. All day Karina and I each thought it was "just me" and were trying to figure out why the bathroom was dark. Perhaps someone installed a bug light??!!
Was it the electric shock Val gave you?? :)

Barbara Hill
Business Office Manager
Broadway Medical Clinic, L.L.P."


Too funny.

Word(s) of the day: PATELLA

Lexie log: I'm really looking forward to her party, I hope the weather is ok. It supposed to be freezing rain tonight, but I'm hopeful for Friday. She ran around last night, after an entire year of begging for her birthday party, saying that she wasn't going to have one because she is a power ranger. She's a funny bird.

Today I'm grateful for Frank and Lexie, Mom and Dad, online banking, snowflakes that melt on my nose and eyelashes, water, food, sleep, coffee, laughter, and life.

The answer my friend, is blowin in the wind, the answer is blowin in the wind

Yes, it's been awhile. Work has been hectic with rolling out new EDI tools like electronic claims, remit, bill, edit, a new lockbox, getting all the docs NPI numbers, whew. And then this week, Betty spent Monday through Friday in the hospital with a gastro issue that is still a mystery. No pain, just significant loss of blood with no identifiable cause or source. Thankfully she came home on her birthday, but missed Thanksgiving. Our heater went out Thanksgiving morning and Frank stayed home to wait for the gas person to come diagnose it while Lexie and I went out to my Moms for dinner. It was pleasent and nice, I just wish we could have stayed longer. For some reason the Yamhill forest is so cozy in the winter. Today is blustery and stormy, pleasant for a weekend. No swim for Lexie as it is Thanksgiving weekend.

Word(s) of the day: WIND

Lexie log: Still my little angel. As I type she is asking either myself or Daddy to open pistachios, but she won't eat them, she just keeps putting them in my mouth. She has decided that she is a Red Power Ranger. It is cute. Last night Daddy came flying into the living room with his yellow Columbia sportswear jacket all zipped up, only leaving a small eye hole and doing some impressive yellow power ranger moves. This delighted Lexie to no end. He latest passions are horses, particularly My Little Pony which she has started a collection, then Power Rangers and Bratz, specifically Bratz Babies. So...I have something to work with for her birthday wich is less than a week. Papa's Pizza will be our party spot. I can't believe she is already going to be four.

Today I'm grateful for Frank and Lexie, Mom and Dad, Betty getting released from Providence, our pets, cozy weekends, and life.

Let's talk about all the good things, and the bad things, that may be...

Ok, so I'm on day seven of eye twitch hell. It was almost completely gone yesterday, only noticed it a few times. Then I woke up this morning to it, and it has been the worst it has been so far.

Yesterday evening we had the most wonderful dinner at Stanfords. Oh, I just love that restaraunt.

Word(s) of the day: CANDOR

Lexie log: I have started looking for systems that would be good for Lexie. My goal is to get two new flat screens, one for the office computer, and one for her. And also get a smaller desktop system and a childrens keyboard. I'm not ready to have her hooked up to the internet yet. Just a computer. The extra monitor for us is because our current monitor is two computers old, and starting to act up a bit. Come to think of it, I might even have the computer already and just need the monitor and keyboard/mouse. We still have the last computer because it didn't have enough memory for some of my applications. Perhaps it will be good enough for some learning CD's for Lexie. I'll have to check that out this week.

Lexie is trying so hard to listen better and do well in swim. I love her so much. She is so distracted so easily. It must be a busy little mind to be a kid.

Today I'm grateful for Frank and Lexie, Mom and Dad, family and friends, water, coffee, tastebuds, weekends, birthdays, tape, wind, keys, colors and life.

The end of the rainbow... 

The middle of the rainbow 

The other end of the rainbow. 

River man... 

This is almost creepy 

He's fast. 

Double rainbow. 

Our weekly river trip. 

Hmm. 

True water hound. 

The Columbia on a Fall Saturday evening. 

Dog running on the river 

Dog 

This is one of my favorites. 

Frank always takes great cloud pictures. 

I'm heading for the rainbow... 

River scene... 

My desk at work 

Outside my window at work. 

Bump on a bed. 

I can't believe she still sleeps like this. 

sweet 

Down came the rain, and washed the spider out...

I really do love the weather in this region. October and almost 70 degrees. Torrential rains causing high water, flooding, and just basically unpredictable.

Getting into the groove at work. Month end is going much smoother now, and I have deemed November offically my month to cleanup all my projects.

Word(s) of the day: PENDANT

Lexie log: I just had to force in five minutes to blog today, because yesterday Grammy and Lexie made me a birthday card and a present. I just love it. I'll have to take a picture and post it. She did much better in swim and tumbling and is practiciing focusing and listening. I sure do love her.

Today I'm grateful for Frank and Lexie, Mom and Dad, Betty, SmartGlove, weekends, happiness, and life.

Happy Halloween... 

Come on, let's go... 

Ok Mom, ready to hit the s-treats.