Before another email arrives --yes, I am still alive....

Okay, okay, I know it has been a while since my last post and an even longer while since any long full-of-my-nonsense posts. It has been a crazy month!...

And where to start??

Many of you know that I had to return to a traditional 9-5 job due to lack of funds and losing our insurance when John's enlistment finished in September. Well it was a lonnnngggg and grueling job search because (as we have learned) Akron jobs are scarce. And finding one that is good paying, benefit giving and good hours of work are like finding diamonds in a pile of manure. But after a great deal of interviews, I landed an awesome job. I am now employed at the Women's Health Center (which is a part of Summa-formerly Akron City Hospital) as a full-time Certified Medical Assistant.

It is the first time I have worked in an OB/GYN setting and a month into it and I already know I am home. At first I was a little intimidated because I haven't worked in a clinical setting at any length since 2002. All of my work since was more on the administrative side of things. Plus, they were a very close knit group of girls who had been together for quite some time. But they have taken me under their wings as I jumped back in to tech'ing once again. It is feeling like riding a bike for the most part, I just needed to get back on without fear, and ride on. I am really proud to be apart of this great team and even more proud of the work that is being done at WHC.

There as only been one pitfall…literally….(see Ouchies!)

While it has been 3 weeks since my big fall I am still not 100%. My left lower leg (the one that took the brunt of the fall) has blood built up between the skin/fat and the muscle. It looks horrible and still hurts but I start therapy for it Friday so hopefully it will resolve soon.

Another reason you haven't heard or seen much of me lurking around is I am still going to school full time. I just finished the writing class I loved and have moved on to one I am not so fond of—Algebra II-yuck. Math is far from my strong point but I am working on that.

So let's see—I covered work, school---oh yeah family…
Well John is loving teaching and Johnathan is loving kindergarten. Johnathan is also taking tennis lessons and loving those as well. Erik and Amanda have been doing well in school and have been drawing some amazing sketches. Being around mom tons more then ever before has had its advantages and disadvantages, but nonetheless I am glad to be a more active part in their lives.

The weather here has turned really cold. In fact, we have has snow flurries off and on for about2 weeks now. Boogity and Lucy are not sure what to think of the white stuff coming out of the sky and the cold windows. My poor southern blooded Mustang is not happy either. Before too long we will be parking her until Spring. (Another good thing about the job is I am close to John's work so we can carpool in the winter and he has a 4x4 Ranger that can drive through anything).

Oh that is cats, kids, cars, work, school—what is left??...

My writing-well it should be more appropriately titled my lack-of-writing because I haven't had the _____________ (insert excuse here) to work on the writing. I know "Bad Shannon" but I am hoping this post will be a spark to get me going again. I have taped a bunch of ideas and additions to the book but actually sitting down and putting it down… is… well… non-existent (note to self: stop surfing myspace and write!!)

Oh well I think I have ya'll caught up with my drama….until later!
Hugs, Shannon

Weekend with the family in PA

Hello,

Yes, I am still alive after my fight with the steps at work. Sore and bruised but otherwise ok. John, Johnthan and I decided to head out to Geigertown, PA to meet up with my family for the weekend.

It is a relatively easy drive, straight east on I-76 for about 5 1/2 hours. The drive was beautiful. The leaves aren’t at ‘peak’ colors yet, but they are still breathtaking.

We got in around 11 Friday night and I got to see my cousin Ed for the first time in about 15 years. I also was there to see my parents, who where there for the fall vacation with the family, and it was the first time I have seen them since the October trip I made to Mississippi after the storm.

This morning we got up, had a big breakfast and headed for a giant farmers/flea market. The drive from my aunt’s house there was so pretty. I love all the really old colonial houses with stone walls. I also love the old farm house that line the very curvy streets. The majority of the drive was through a wooded area that was filled with trees in various states of change. Reds, oranges, greens and yellows filled the brisk autumn sky as we winded in an around the hilly landscape. Much of the roads looked like tunnels as the trees reached well above us and the follage flowed above the road. The air was clean and chily, but a good cold because I could where my over-sized sweatshirt comfortably. I love this weather.

This evening after the majority of the clan crashed from lots of beer and way to much Jack Daneils, Dawn, Aunt Phyl, Johnthan and I started talking and playing with some of Dawn’s amazing candles and bath salts. She has come up with some amazing scents that I hope to see on a store shelf one day. Her candles are exquiste. She dreams of doing something with them one day, maybe starting her own business. I hope she does, the world needs more beauty in it and her candles, soaps, bath salts and even her paintings would be perfect. She is truly talented and I hope she keeps that dream alive. I now have some fun ideas of things for Amanda and I to make and to give as presents this holiday season.

Well, the weekend in PA ends in the early afternoon tomorrow as we are planning on leaving after breakfast so we can get home, watch the race in Talledega and get ready for the upcoming week. I wish we could stay longer, but with the new job and John’s job and even Johnathan’s school we just can take the time off right now. But we are planning a longer trip this summer with Erik and Amanda.

Until tomorrow…

Ouchies!

Ok, ok I admit I am a klutz but today was the worst yet. You see I started a new job (which I love!!!) at a local hospital working as a medical assistant in a women's health center. I have been there a week tomorrow...anyhoo...I was in a great mood this morning and decided to take the stairs down to our basement office sitting the need for exercise and the fact they are going down thereby attempting to eliminate the heart attack induced by going up stairs...but again I digress...as I took the first step I smiled at a lady going up. The next step...was a doozy as they say in cartoons. I lost my footing because my horribly weak ankle gave out. I went to grab the rail and the momentum of my fat ass falling was stronger then my grip on the rail I proceeded to fall...the entire flight of stairs...hitting each and everyone for good measure on the way down....now utterly mortified of my idiot self I am more worried about saving face that the nice lady I smiled at came to help me get up...I brushed myself off and hobbled to work. Once there I proceeded to sob like a big baby. The girls in my office rushed to see what was wrong I told them I was a doofus and fell no big deal my shin was all that was sore (at the time) and they gave me ice and tried to talk me into going to the ER to get checked out. I moved all the joints and said it wasn't broken and I'd be fine with some Motrin. I was wearing those lovely white support hose that nurses where to help with tired legs (which by the way work marvelous) and couldn't really see the extent of any injury. I sucked it up, I was new so I had to save face...and today turned out to be busy...very busy. I was running up and down the halls well more like hobbled up and down the halls like a mad woman...I popped some more Motrin around lunch still mortified that I fell and pressed on...by 3 pm I started getting a stiff neck, so I finally took their advice and sat for the last hour and a half of my shift...during that time security shows up to do an incident report adding to my shame of being a goober and falling down a flight of stairs....by the time it was 430 and time for us to leave I couldn't stand up. I sheepishly asked my brand new bosses where I should go since my insurance hasn't kicked in and they let me know don't worry it is workers comp I can go straight over to the ER. I hobbled in to the main hospital and into ER...everyone one that I talked to felt so bad about not only that I fell but that I worked the entire day never complaining and was just now getting help...so much pity they fast tracked me (if 3 hours is fast) into a bed and to a doctor...mind you I still haven't seen the extent of the damage because of the tights...I get undressed very slowly because by now I can not move my left side (side of impact) I lay back down and look at my left leg and it looks like I had a baseball bat taken to it...I start sobbing...I can't get in a comfortable position because I must have hit my tail bone and my hip on the way down...then I lightly brush my elbow on the bed and it feels like I have been stabbed....my the time the doctor comes in I look as bad as I feel. She checks me out and I have nothing broken....But I have managed to bruise my entire left side from neck near my jaw line down my left shoulder over my shoulder blade my whole left arm, my left side, hip and tail bone, down my leg and even my foot is black and blue...on the right side I have misc. bruising from trying to stop the fall. My left hand is swollen and bruised as well. They gave me some vicodin and were about to discharge me home with a day off tomorrow when I realize my car is 6 blocks away in the employee lot and I am alone...crap...the very sweet and former marine security guard took pity on me and drove me to my car. I drug myself into my car and got home having to lift my leg to get out of the car. I sent my hubby on a vicodin filling quest and I laid down. Only now, 5 hours and many vicodin later am I able to sit up. Which is why I am dropping a quick note because before too long the meds will where off and I will be bedridden again. I am going to try to go into work tomorrow...I have been promised a desk job for the next few days if I want to come in, but if not that is cool too...they wnat me better not worse. So I am planning on going in, but I have a bad feeling this is going to be more painful in the morning ...anyhoo...talk to everyone soon...
your friendly neighborhood klutz

End of the Talledega Race...

Ok just my 2 cents here so take it as you will... I am a Jr fan, but....How many times over the years 1982 - 2001 did we see Sr do exactly the same thing to win a race? He is considered the greatest driver of all time yet when someone pulls a Dale they get chastised....frankly it was nice to see someone fight for a win and not be all kissa*& to do it. The races are becoming so vanilla that I know Dale is turning over in his grave. This is why I am sure Jr. blew the whole thing off and chalked it up to "that's racing" ….if the weenies can't take the heat go drive F1 or Indy...putting soap box away for now.....