Cell Phones and Peach and Quiet

I have a dilemma about cell phones. I feel safer having one, but it's also a curse when I have one and choose not to have it with me. Take tonight for example: I was to pick up Jena around 5pm. I was doing heavy horse tasks, (moving hay, grain) and couldn't wear my phone, so I put it in the car. Evidently she called and texted from 5:15, when I got back to the car where I could hear my phone. I sort of miss the days when i could be off riding and not be reached by anyone. If I was late...well, then I was late. Of course this meant pissed off husbands, but hey, they weren't mad at me or pestering me till i got home, so what did I care?

Of course, the flip side is safety. It's good to be safe and have contact with your fellow man, but sometimes, I wish I had a little lesson contact.

We're going to the Texas Renaissance Faire this weekend in Houston. We had planned to go to Great Wolf Lodge for 2 nights, but it was going to cost over $800 just for the hotel. This will cost us less than half of that and we'll probably have just as much fun. Peter will have his camera. Cat is making me a court gown. I'm very excited about it.

I will miss the horses though. I love riding over the holidays. I have been severely cut back in my riding lately. Jena is with us alot and she rides some, but not always and I end up having to change up my tentative plan. maggie doesn't always want to ride with Jena and vice versa. It's not her fault...it just is easy to blow off riding, or feel like I can't get away when I have extra company. It's totally me letting other things get it in my way. I also don't ride as much now that I trim, feed, etc. I'm working to change that though. I now have a standing Thursday date with Dana, which will help for one time per week. Maggie and I usually ride on Fridays and then one day on Saturday...I hope to pick up Monday mornings since I can take her to school and not have to be at work till 11, but I'm not really sure I will have time for that...work takes up so much time from the things I'd really rather be doing.

Giving in, going to doctor

I changed my work schedule tomorrow to take myself to the doctor. I am STILL sick...I was feeling better, but now I feel like I Have a new bug. I'm running a fever and yet, I still have to go to the nursing home for an inservice when I really could just sleep all day. So, tomorrow, no springtown (will make it up after Thanksgiving) and I will be at the doctor's brigh and early. I think I have pneumonia.

As I reflect on still being ill...

Reprinted from Yahoo.

The 10 Germiest Jobs in America: Is yours on the list?

by Sarah Jio, Vitamin G, Glamour Magazine, on Wed Oct 29, 2008 8:00am PDT
We're getting over the stomach flu in my house (NOT fun), so believe me, I've been thinking about germs this week--specifically how to avoid them. So a recent headline caught my eye: The 10 Germiest Jobs in America. Of course, I had to click and learn more. Here's the scoop ...
Dr. Charles Gerba, a microbiologist at the University of Arizona, whose nickname is "Dr. Germ," spoke to ABC News recently, about the germiest professions in America:

1. Teacher/day-care worker (which is closest to what I do!)

2. Cashier, bank employee

3. Tech support/computer repair

4. Doctor or nurse

5. Lab scientist

6. Police officer

7. Animal control officer

8. Janitor or plumber

9. Sanitation worker (AKA garbage man/woman)

10. Meat packer

I think I'd add pest control workers to the list. Just think of those poor guys (and gals) crawling around in dark basements in search of rats. Ewww.
Do you have a germy profession that you'd add to the list? A friend of mine is a librarian at a public library and she Purells her hands all day long. (Is Purell the best way to kill germs?)
And, a quick side note about Purell, and all other alcohol-based hand sanitizers folks: These don't "breed" bacteria as many people fear (I've been seeing some comments to this extent on the blog, so I thought I'd speak up). It's easy to come to this conclusion given all the warnings from health experts about superbugs and how bacteria are becoming resistant to antibiotics, yada, yada, yada--but rest assured, hand sanitizing gels aren't the reason. These are alcohol based and don't contain any "antimicrobial" properties (most don't, anyway). It's antibacterial soaps and wipes that have some health experts worrying. The thought is that bacteria are becoming stronger and bolder as a result of our love-affair with antibacterial everything. So, Purel away--it just kills the bugs and doesn't make them grow bigger and stronger. And maybe read up on antibacterial soaps and products before using--just FYI.

To make this horse related...I need to throw hay to the horses but can't breathe so they are scrounging in the field. I will get it done tonight, but I'm ready to feel better!

Another day of sickness

I am so tired of feeling crummy. My nose is still a fountain and I have no voice. Try singing to the children with no voice recorded music. It doesn't hold their attention at all.

I think being sick might be worth it though. Liberty ended up in 4th overall for the season and except for the spooking which threatened to dislodge me, he performed very well. It's really hard to believe that a year ago he couldn't walk down a hill.

I am really proud of Maggie and Dixie who continue to show steady improvement. They had good scores and their partnership is growing. They make a nice team.

My next goal for Liberty is to work on his resistance to the bridle and continue obstacle work. Our next ride is a trail trial @ Teresa's on November 22 and I plan to concentrate on obstacle work until then. I would really like to make my english saddle work for us but I may have to just give in and go western for now, until I can afford the right english saddle. The wintec may have too much rocker to ever work.

I am having a bad

I am having a bad day. I have a terrible cold and now it's starting to drain. Tomorrow I am supposed to go camping so I can compete on Sat. in the last of four STC rides with Maggie. Liberty and I are in fourth place overall...not b/c we have great scores but because we have gone to all the rides and done "ok" in all the rides. I haven't had a cold in a long time...wish it had waited a little longer.

Then I was dismissed by one of my favorite clients for unreliability. She is partially correct, though we have been equally unreliable. The last couple months have been hit and miss at best, BUT it's not entirely my fault. She's been traveling, she stood me up three times. She went on vacation three times. But I had to change my times a couple times (actually in an effort to accomodate her schedule) and then we had illness...It just really bothers me that I thought she and I were on the same page and we were fine. They actually met last week and decided to discontinue massage (possibly altogether--not just me) and she made 2 other appointments with me which I was then stood up from. I guess I should be angry instead of hurt, but I liked her so much that I am bummed.

I know that I have not been taking my work seriously enough. I feel swamped all the time, but yet I don't work hard enough, I don't put in enough hours. I just can't seem to get my workload up to earn the money I am potentially able to earn. Maybe I just am not a good mom, worker, etc. Maybe I need to accept that there is only so many hours I have in me and take care of my family first. It's why I became a massage therapist in the first place. I'm upset because I gave up one of the nursing homes because I had so many contract hours and then some of them have dropped off. I have lost one more hour at springtown because of how the kids are recombined and i have lost a contract hour. Of course, I'm making more money than I did working full time for a number of years, so I guess it's not all bad. Maybe this is a blessing? I just hate being let go.

And now I have a cold

I have a miserable horrible cold! I thought maybe it was just the wind blowing in allergies the other day, but no, it's a miserable, horrible cold. I can't breathe, my nose is like a fawcett and I wish I were in bed...but I'm not. I'm at Northgate for one last day cleaning up some paperwork and helping the new music therapist go over the paperwork since each facility does things a little differently. Then I see Dottie and then I pack up to go camping. Camping with a cold doesnt' sound fun...but I do have mucinex so hopefully I will be draining soon.

Homecoming at baylor

My dad is here visiting and we have found ourselves at the Mizzou vs. Baylor game and it also happens to be homecoming. I haven't been back to Homecoming since the year after I graduated and broke up with Gary Owens. I ran into two people I had known from marching band and found out that one girl lives close to us in Arlington. I don't expect Baylor to win but it's still fun to be here. Sure is hot though for November. My back is sweating. It's going to be 80 today.