Going to be a short one...

Hurricane Wilma is set to be a category 2 or 3 by the time it hits Florida. Thank God it won't be a cat. 4/5 like originally planned. We are going to get the strong side of the storm (the wind); as opposed to the North side (the rain). I have to work tonight (how fortunate for me - to have to work during the last two hurricanes). It's been noted that if you so chose to call in 'sick' or 'not able to make it', you will be terminated. I'm sure there is a law about that somewhere... however, Florida is a no-fault state and they can release you of your duties without reason. Oh well. Just like Hurricane Katrina - I will drive carefully and do my best to get there without difficulty.

I'm going to be extremely busy at work tonight - they open the maternity center as a shelter for pregnancies greater than 37 weeks. We anticipate an above average number of babies will be born tonight/tomorrow. So in the event you happen to read this and have a need to call me, please leave a voice mail for me and I will check it once I get a moment (if I get a moment). Feel free to use the instant message/text message feature if an urgent message is necessary. Please only use this feature for tonight only.

I need to power down now... sky is getting dark - and winds are picking up. Tornadoes are expected tonight between Miami and Palm Beach. From what I'm listening to on the radio - this is going to be a douzie... um... a double douzie.

Will post pictures when its all over with.

** Amanda **

Positive Thinking...

Trying to 'stay afloat' just doesn't cut it sometimes. For the last year and a half, I have gone to school, gone to work, and thrived at being a single parent. It wasn't until I caught a really bad cold, that put me out of commission for five weeks, that I began to realize I may be taking on too much at once. Since then, I have withdrawn from my classes (due to fear of failing), and have dedicated one extra half hour a day to myself. Even though that extra half hour for myself comes out of my sleeping time. Being totally honest with myself though - I think working the night shift is what's wearing me out. Now that I've been transfered to Mother/Baby - I have found a lot of happiness in my job. It keeps me busy, and I love what I do. On the other hand, I'm also sad that I had to withdraw from my schooling. I kept a high GPA, and tried my best. I'm just having doubts that going to school is the right thing... for now. I feel like I have been striving for excellence, in everything I do, for what seems to be an eternity (even though it really hasn't been). Unfortunately, I have found myself on that rat wheel that just about everyone finds themselves on... you know - that never ending circle. Most people reference it to getting a job. They can't get a job, because they don't have a car. They can't get a car because they don't have a job. In my situation, Matthew is my priority, and then working, and then school (to really put it into perspective). For me to supply everything he needs, I need a job. For me to have a job, I have to find time to work. For me to find time to work, I need to be healthy enough, and have ample rest. Which leads me back to square one: Matthew is my priority. School I think would be more of a 'side job' (not quite recreational activity). The only issue with that is that the schooling will pay off in a big way years from now... and only a fraction in the here and now. I am contemplating postponing college until Matthew is possibly in middle school or high school.

It's only 19:37 - and I'm exhausted... can't seem to keep my eyes open any longer. Now that I think about it - we've been going to bed earlier and earlier as the days pass.

Hurricane Wilma is still (supposedly) on her way...

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit."

- Aristotle

Wow - it's been a while, huh?

Wow, it's been a while, huh? A lot has been going on. Matthew had a Cub Scout Meeting on Tuesday - which lasted longer than I had planned. This month's theme is "To the Rescue". At their Den Meeting, the boys made footprints with their shoes in some sand and then filled it in with a cement like substance. They also used ink and put their fingerprints in their handbooks. These things will be taken to the Police Station at their next Den Meeting. Matthew also has a car wash fundraiser event that he will be selling tickets for (which should have been tonight), but it was cancelled due to inclement weather. The car was was postponed from this weekend to November 12. Anyone wishing to support his Cub Scout Pack by making a donation for a car wash voucher, please feel free to contact him. The car wash event will be taking place at Grace Lutheran Church in Miami Springs from 09:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Because the theme this month is "To the Rescue", we will have some very special guests at the next Pack Meeting. The Dade County Venom Team will be in attendance. The boys don't know this yet - but will be very surprised when they arrive. The boys will also learn basic first aid. On October 29th, the Pack will be getting together for an activity in the Redlands. They will be learning about horses and how to care for them. They will be going horseback riding, grooming, feeding, and cleaning up after the horses. On December 2, 3, and 4 the Pack is going camping. Matthew's never been camping before - but is very excited about all of the upcoming events.

In other news: My transfer request from Telemetry was granted. Thank goodness! I put in a request to transfer to a hospital closer to the house... but I was transfered to our Mother/Baby Unit instead. The hospital I am currently at is a little short staffed in the Mother/Baby Unit because one of our employees needed surgery. So I agreed to fill in for a little while. If it becomes permanent - I don't think I'd mind. I really like it there. And, another bonus - it will keep me busy. I will be floating from Mother/Baby, to the NICU, to Labor and Delivery, to Pediatrics.

As I mentioned earlier, we are in the midst of inclement weather. Most of you are aware, a category 4/5 hurricane is comming our way. I think I will shut down my system on Friday night, maybe Saturday... depending on how things look. As for now, we need to get going - have to get batteries, new flashlights, and what-not.

I hope to touch base with everyone again soon. Moreover, I hope our power doesn't go out for a week like it did with hurricane Katrina. Thinking about it though... Katrina was a category 1. If Wilma is as bad as the news crews say she is.... (sigh)... - I'd rather not finish that statement.

Signing off for now.

Somewhat Peaceful Sunday

Today, we went to GameWorks. Matthew was able to play video games for who knows how many hours. He also managed to get in a bowling video game (which had all ten frames, believe it or not). He played twice (of course). Best part about that was that bowling shoes are not required. The Dolphin game was on, so it was rather loud there. We came home around 6:30 so we could feed Little Foot. But all-in-all, it was a good day.

Tomorrow is Columbus Day. The only thing on the adgenda is for me to find a professional photo studio. I need to get some old photos copied. It's amazing, I was going through a hat box of my grandmother's, it contained photos from when she was in 8th grade. Some family members expressed interest in having copies of them, so my mission is to find a photo place that is able to make copies without having negatives. CVS and Walgreens can only make standard copies (which is something I can do here at home).

It's funny (ironic), for all of the plans that I had wanted to make with Matthew, we did very little. Maybe the next time I have a weekend off he will want to do more... one can only hope though. As for now, I will sign off - we are getting ready to watch back-to-back films - Big (with Tom Hanks), and Lemony Snickets' A Series of Unfortunate Events. Have a wonderful night everyone.

The Wonderful Weekend Ahead

I just got home from work... and I've decided that I'm going to request a transfer from Telemetry to Pediatrics. It's difficult to work with people who would rather not work as a team. And not to mention that it's quite difficult to be one of the very few individuals that is willing to 'go the extra mile'. I'm in hopes that Peds. will not be nearly as miserable.

As you can see, I have titled my post "The Wonderful Weekend Ahead". So you're probably wondering why it is so wonderful... well - that's because I'm off work. (ha ha ha) It's actually because I've got a lot of things planned for Matthew and I. We have a movie or two to get in, he may want to go to his Chess Club (see pic. below), maybe a bowling game, but I'd definetly like to take him to the Miami Children's Museum. They have special activities going on there this weekend. If he opts out, I'm thinking maybe to take him to the Museum of Science. I was very sick for about five weeks, and just two days after I started feeling better, we had a death in the family (my father's side). So all-in- all, we just need to get out of the house and spend some quality time together.

But - all of this comes after I get up from a nap. Midnight shifts are long - and I'm quite tired. Will post more later. This blogger thing is pretty cool. I'm glad I was introduced to it. Have a happy Saturday everyone!

Just Getting Started

I think this will be my 'test' entry. It's about time I checked this craze out, and finally started posting.

This is a photo of my son and I from May 2004.

Welcome all who enter here.