Sunday, November 29, 2009

What I'm Thankful For...

A few days late...

The things I'm thankful for, not just at Thanksgiving but every day.

  • I am thankful for a wonderful, fun-loving family that loves you for who you are, no matter what.
  • I am thankful that my my nephews Allan & Scott, were able to come out to my parents place with their families this Thanksgiving.  Really made Mom & Dad's holiday.
  • I am thankful for a wonderful, loving, supportive husband that loves me more and more everyday (even after 19 years of marriage!!)
  • I am thankful to God for blessing me with everything I need and helping understand that everything I want may not be everything I need.
Hope you all had a wonderfully happy Thanksgiving!!!!

Friday, November 20, 2009

School Politics... whatever

So, we have a crappy, disorganized instructor.  We've all had them...  you sit around and complain how bad they are, how you aren't learning anything, wasting time & money, and how you'd run the class if you were given the chance.

Tuesday, I decided I'd HAD it!  Really??  I'm paying A LOT of money, not to mention several hours of my week in a class that has been, thus far, useless.  This RT program is an accelerated program and many classes are very short and not-so-sweet with no time to waste on an instructor that isn't engaged in instruction, that can't get it together enough to pull together a cohesive lecture.  We've had four classes (with only four more to go) and are behind by 3 chapters and have learned - ZILCH.  So after listening to most of the class complain of the same issues I was concerned with... I opted to go to our RT director with the issues.  ON MY OWN, AS MY OWN REPRESENTATIVE...  Wednesday morning, I told many classmates that I'd talked to our director and we'd see if there was an improvement.  EVERY ONE of those classmates supported the act.  A couple even said they'd talked to the director the the week before.  So...

Thursday's class was MUCH better.  Great handouts, fairly good lecture, although we are still a bit behind the instructor took great strides in his lectures and engagement in the class.  Then the last ten minutes he passed out a quick 'quiz' that had absolutely NOTHING to do with the class.  Well, there were about 5 questions that pertained to what we were supposed to be studying although we hadn't really covered those areas yet.  What the hell???  So we grumbled, took the quiz and left.

Then last night a wonderfully, engaging, (she says facetiously) dictating disaster of an email went out to the class stating that if a person feels the need to talk to the director about a class reasons, then that said person needs to get the approval of the class first.  Since, even if its your OWN complaint, it will look like the class was complaining and the instructor just might get mad at us (insert Boo Hoo here).

Several of us took offense to that little statement.  NO ONE has to clear anything with anyone, unless you are specifically going in and stating "I am here as a rep for the class...".  No will censor what I say and to whom I say it.  Anyway, several responses were given by classmates to that effect and I responded with my own.  Today I waited for the fallout by this particular classmate but nothing... I have to say, it was a little disappointing.  I was all fired-up with righteous indignation.

We are adults and we have to work together for the next year and it's a small school - we'll have the instructors more than once over the next 14 months.  We all need to get along.  I get that... but if I had wanted to learn by just reading, I would have just bought the books and stayed home... saved myself a lot of money.  Anyway, I feel justified.  I'd do it again (and probably will) and I'm so not sorry for doing it.

There... I feel a little better and promise to let this go by the time I post this.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Fragrance Policy Part II

OK - so talking with some New Mexicans that have been in this area longer than I... they said that many restaurants that are small with many tables sitting close together have implemented "fragrance policies" as they do not want someone's over powering perfume or cologne to interfer the neighboring diner's dinner smells.  I still don't know how they determine who "smells" or not.

Sorry you asthmas suffers that thought it was for you.

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Fragrance Policy

The world never-ever ceases to astound me.  Today I found a restaurant, in Santa Fe, that has a Fragrance Policy.   Yep, a fragrance policy... not sure what that means as far as a restaurant is concerned but Trattoria Nostrani has one or is developing one, as the website still has its policy page "under development".   You can bet I'll be checking back to see if they ever post that policy...  And I'll let you know what I find out.

If you have ever heard of such a thing (other than at your workplace) let me know.

    Saturday, November 14, 2009

    Fall is Here

    I wish the colors had come out a little better.  The Fall colors in New Mexico are amazing.  And unlike the PNW the rain doesn't make them come to an early end... they seem to last forever and ever here.  Unfortunately we didn't make it up into the mountains to see the colors before the snow hit but the cottonwoods and various other trees put on quite a show here in the Bosque, even if I'm a little late in getting photos.




    And we thought we wouldn't 
    have to rake leaves anymore!!


    Maggie & Hannah waiting at the door.  I gave up trying to 
    keep it clean but Bryan washes it every now and then...

    Thursday, November 12, 2009

    Ponder This...

    Why is it, when I'm trying to nap, Hannah & Maggie comes in and pesters me about every 15 minutes but when I give up and get up, I don't see hide nor hair of them????

    Love 'em to death but they are an exercise in patience.

    Wednesday, November 11, 2009

    Fed Up & Frustrated

    OK, on the way home from school I had a whole 30 page post written out in my head but... I'm sick and really just too fed up to write it all out so I'll just cut to the chase.

    I have a lot to say but I get to angry and then I ramble so...

    If you don't like it here (America), if you don't like the way the country is ran, if you don't like how we treat terrorists, etc, etc, etc... then MOVE.  I'm sure there is a great place somewhere waiting just for you.  America isn't infallible, we all know that.  But stop bitching & making up crap to suit you the way you think it should be... stop blaming everyone and everything but the ones that should be blamed.  Stop bestowing rights on monsters that don't deserve them, stop lambasting our servicemen & women for doing a job they signed up to do

    I do respect the right of everyone to have an opinion, that's just one of the great things about America is that you CAN have a differing opinion.  But I also expect to be respected for my opinions.  I guess my biggest peeve is the people who think, because I don't believe as they do, then I'm a narrow-minded, right-wing, uber-conservative, religious nut...

    Obviously I had a bad day at school...

    Monday, November 9, 2009

    Asthma Allies



    I have just been selected as a volunteer at this great organization.  I am so excited to have the opportunity to work with various medical teams, including some of the best pulmonologists in NM, in a wide variety of settings to help educate asthma patients, their families and friends about living productively with asthma.

    Below is a little bit about Asthma Allies and their mission.  To learn more about the company and the services they offer,  visit www.asthmaallies.org .



    Our Company

    Asthma Allies is an Albuquerque-based, 501c3 non-profit organization that specializes in asthma education. It was founded in 2005 by two women, Gerri Rivers and Romelia Rodriguez Walters, who joined forces to centralize asthma resources and focus on collaboration and education. Our founders bring over twenty years of combined experience in asthma education, program development, patient care and support services.

    Our Mission & Goal

    The mission of Asthma Allies is to improve the quality of life for individuals affected with asthma by raising awareness; providing evidence-based education to individuals, families, schools, and healthcare professionals; addressing disparity and access issues; and encouraging comprehensive asthma self-management through a team approach. Co-Founders, Gerri and Romelia, understand that successful asthma management is a team effort.

    Friday, November 6, 2009

    Random Photos

    Here's a few photos from around the house.  Our first 'snow' on the Sandia's, Hannah & Maggie and some blurry ones of a hummingbird nest I found in our apple tree.

    And I have to say - for the moment at least - I am NOT a fan of the new photo pasting tool that Blogspot has come up with.  Maybe it'll grow on my as I use it more...


    Hannah (now weighing in at 59lbs)
    .

    Hummingbird Nest (a bit blurry)


    Maggie (now weighing in at 66 lbs)


    Hannah & Maggie looking for the ball


    Snow on the Sandia's



    Hidden hummingbird nest







    Bird fighting itself on Bryan's truck




    Last shot of the hummingbird nest