Work

I've always been taught work is important. Its true--okay I know it's true. As a result I do my best and work my hardest at everything I try. This includes my job, the aspect of life that brings me home the money that pays for my house, my phone, and my lifestyle. Work I know is suppose to be work, but sometimes the ER isn't the most insane place and we have time for fun--or loonies from the sugar high we all get on. My ER is crazy and I love it.

If you've wondered where I've been all of January--yeah its been in the ER. Wrestling the crazies, treating the sick, getting yelled at by the angry, swapping crazy stories, playing with the kids, and laughing with my friends. I mean where else can you have a federal criminal climb into the ceiling and escape or witness a psych patient jump up and down a 48oz soda before we knew what was happening. Maybe work hasn't been so bad but my 18 days off can't come soon enough.

Mornings

I am not a fan of mornings. I should also clarify at this point that my morning is not the same as the rest of the world. My morning begins at 1400. Not 0600 like the rest of the world. Getting up before noon is a pure miracle for me. At some point I switched from the early morning person to the grumpy, annoyed, monster who surfaces in what the rest of the world calls afternoon.

I have my routines. My way of helping the morning process move are bit smoother. Ask my coworkers--they will tell you when I've done my routine and when I've been rushed. The drowsy monster isn't under control by then. Can you really blame me for wanting to stay snuggled up watching Miranda in my nice squishy bed? Well, chocolate covered cinnamon bears do help a lot! What do you do in the morning to control the ugly monsters? Okay

BADDAY

Alexander and I have a lot of things in common lately. Except instead of one day I have had a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad month.

Melissa woke up after the Holidays to discover life smacked her right in the face. She set goals and wanted to do so much. Set out to make this the best year yet. However, the month said, "Hahahahahahaha yeah right we will change your plans."

Melissa went to work only to discover her friends were sick and they would be short--again. Not only short but she would charge again and again and again. She was unable to care for patients -all she dealt with was problems and complaints.

With the extra shifts and longer hours, Melissa didn't get to sleep much. The hospital had taken over her life it seemed and she couldn't get away. The more she tried the more it pulled. The paychecks were bigger but it doesn't mean much. Melissa had a big meeting to plan, but all she heard was grumblings despite the time and effort she put into it.

Melissa missed her friends, who kept canceling on her and forgetting to call. Some she felt she them didn't know anymore. She went on a date, awkward and scary--she was reminded why boys are still scum. Her body was screaming at her and acting out. Melissa understood--she hadn't taken care of it lately--but come on a little help would be appreciated.

Melissa was easily frustrated and tired of not being able to do the things she loved or even keep her house clean. Melissa was frustrated because she isn't patient and wanted to know what she will be doing in the Fall.

With all this terrible, horrible, no good very bad stuff happening, Melissa decided she would move to Italy or maybe Spain. Life just had to be better in Italy or Spain.

Maybe not.

Maybe January will become February and Melissa will simply keep trying to make the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad months into happy, wonderful, giddy, relaxing, well-rounded months. At least she will try.

Renewal

In case you haven't guessed I'm a goal oriented person. If I don't have something pushing me to move I don't. So today, I sit back and decide what I want out of 2011. I accomplished a lot last year; time to make 2011 even more memorable. So here is a list of tasks I'm going to accomplish; my Bucket List for 2011:

• Read 100 Books
• Learn & Perform 1 movement of Scottish Fantasy
• Hike 20 Different Places this Year
• Run a Half Marathon
• Make 6 Felt Craft Projects
• Learn and Change my Own Car Tire
• Learn & Decorate Fancy Cakes
• Sleep Under the Stars
• Read My Healthy Food Book
• Make 2 Flannel Quilts
• Read All 7 Harry Potter Books
• Complete Harry Potter Movie Marathon
• Institute Chocolate Day
• Begin Tennis Lessons
• Travel to Champaign
• Travel to Palm Springs
• Travel to Italy
• Travel to Moab A Few Times
• Travel to California
• Start Grad School

I try and have a theme every year. This year will be the year of simplicity.

• ALMA 37: 6 -- Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise.
• If life and its rushed pace and many stresses have made it difficult for you to feel like rejoicing, then perhaps now is a good time to refocus on what matters most. -- President Utchdorf
• There is a beauty and clarity that comes from simplicity that we sometimes do not appreciate in our thirst for intricate solutions. -- President Utchdorf.
  
• Let us simplify our lives a little. -- President Utchdorf.

So how do I simplify my life? I pick one thing every month to work on. The thing I need to focus on is me time. Finding the time to be quiet. So I hear by implement Me Days once every 2 weeks. That is my New Year's Resolution for 2011. What's yours? What are you going to accomplish?