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Weaver vs Weaver

2009-06-20T23:28:00.000-07:00

Angels vs Dodgers. Jeff Weaver vs Jered Weaver. Number 36 vs Number 36.

Most importantly Jeff Weaver and the Dodgers got the win.

The day after

2009-06-16T23:16:00.000-07:00

The day after my graduation party I woke up in excruciating pain. Long story short, I spent four hours in the emergency room and found out I was passing a kidney stone. I learned what not to do as a nurse and that morphine rocks when you're in pain. After over 48 hours of pain, lots of vomiting and tons of fluid I finally passed the worlds smallest stone. It amazes me how something so small can cause so much pain.

Graduation party

2009-06-13T23:02:00.000-07:00

So my mom asked what kind of cake I wanted and I said "I want an ice cream cake". Obviously the first ice cream cake in the history of the Christiansen family since my mom forgot ice cream goes in the freezer not the fridge.

Round two

My uncle and me

My mom and me

My aunt and me

My grandma (maternal) and me

And my cousin and me

Graduation Day

2009-06-12T19:09:00.000-07:00

It took me only seven years to get my Bachelors Degree, but the day finally came.

I wore my grandad's tags from WWII

The stethoscope in this picture was a gift from my great aunt Caroline. It was her infant stethoscope from when she was a newborn nursery nurse.

This is my pin from my pinning ceremony.

2009-06-11T22:00:00.000-07:00

Jenny at the hair salon getting her hair colored.

Mom and Mema (my mom's mom) came the night before graduation. So we went out to dinner at Red Robin, seeing that I am packing and had nothing to feed them at home.

After dinner my grandma went to her brothers house for the night and I left my mom at home to go to Jenny's and decorate our caps.

Jenny working hard

Pedicures

2009-06-10T21:41:00.000-07:00

In preparation for graduation Friday, Jenny and I went and got pedicures. Kameron came along because he wanted to, although he slept through most of the experience. I am trying to learn to like pedicures, however mostly I find them sort of painful. It is hot, cold, stingy, and I am ticklish. Anyway here are some shots we took.

2009-06-09T20:24:00.000-07:00

My morning began in Bakersfield. I brought my cat Molly to my parents to reunite her with my other cat Audrey. She meowed (if you can call it that) the entire 1 hour and 20minute drive.

My mom was nice enough to accompany me for the rest of my journey, which included us driving my very full car to Carlsbad and unloading the car. We then ate some lunch and returned back to Santa Clarita.

Stuff
Mom driving

Me with stuff behind me.

Later in the evening my mom and I joined Becky and Rylee at Olive park in Burbank for my brother's softball game. She is just too cute.

Rylee in her Dodger gear

2009-06-08T20:15:00.000-07:00

In celebration of graduation week I am going to update my blog at the minimum once daily through Saturday. I know it is hard to imagine and many of you will doubt the likelihood of my statement saying "seeing is believing" especially since I haven't updated since December. Well here it goes anyway. Today was my last class as an undergraduate student! To mark the occassion Jenny and I took a traditional "my-space" photo.

and another

and for good measure one more.

We could hardly contain our excitement on the way home.

Jenny, so excited she can't keep her eyes open (we're stopped at a red light for any concerned she was driving with her eyes closed)

Me, I left my eyes open and maybe not as excited.

More adventures in grad week to follow.

Rylee Noelle Christiansen

2008-12-16T22:21:00.000-08:00

2008-12-16T21:43:00.000-08:00

My mom has photos of my new niece on her blog. Link to the right.

Kameron's first football game

2008-11-12T12:28:00.000-08:00

Halloween Sleepover @ Natalie's

2008-11-12T11:04:00.000-08:00

Natalie, Jenny, Kameron and me

Jenny, Natalie and me

Jenny and me

Natalie and her husband Robert

If anyone wants to feel better about their ability in dart games you should ask to play with me.

Blanket for baby Rylee

2008-11-12T10:48:00.000-08:00

So I asked my brother and Becky who in the family they knew that could knit or crochet and they responded me. Well I am definitely not good but hopefully my future niece will love the blanket I am making her anyway.

Lunch with Jenny

2008-11-12T10:34:00.000-08:00

On October 30th it was so nasty windy we actually got in our cars after class to decide where we wanted to go. The picture of us together was from outside Subway. The staff inside was thoroughly amused by our enjoyment of everything.

Pictures from Becky's baby shower

2008-11-01T20:45:00.000-07:00

Bath time

2008-10-30T23:08:00.000-07:00

Last week my dog got a bath. My mom and I went to pick her up and she was still in the tub. I immediately rushed to my car for the camera. She is too incredibly cute.

Happy Birthday Dereem

2008-10-30T22:57:00.000-07:00

The 22nd was Dereem's Birthday. Yea, she is still older than me.

Cupcakes

and apple pie

Because I can

2008-10-22T21:53:00.000-07:00

So the toilet in the upstairs bathroom had been running for awhile and it finally got annoying enough I needed to do something about it.

Needless to say there was some corrosion and this piece needed to be replaced. Two hardware stores and a few hours later (what do you expect I'm a girl) and my toilet stopped running. Now it is just leaking. A very, very slow leak but it doesn't make any noise.

Thanks Dad!

2008-10-22T21:49:00.000-07:00

Thanks to my dad here is a picture of my puppy as a puppy.

Wow, this seems like forever ago. There is carpet in the hallway and my brother still lived at home. Yep, that is his stack of dirty clothes spilling into the hallway.

Birthday girl

2008-10-19T07:57:00.000-07:00

Today is my puppies seventh birthday. Really she is only mine on paper, her heart belongs to my mom. Seven years ago when I received her as a Christmas present the first words out of my mouth were "couldn't you have found a cuter one." My poor puppy, at least she has grown into a very beautiful lady.

I wish I had a puppy photo to post, she had the hugest head and looked so much like a wookie, unfortunately all the puppy pictures are at home on my parents computer.
Anyways Happy Birthday to my Little Lady Drew.

Hey Mom when you read this give my girl a birthday TREAT and tell her I love her please.

Wedding

2008-10-15T18:50:00.001-07:00

This past weekend my uncle Kurt and his partner Andrew got married. It was a very small wedding with family and a few friends.

This is the Castle Green in Pasadena. It is a very cool old building. I guess it used to be a hotel but is now used for weddings, special events and the upstairs rooms have been converted to apartments.
Here are Kurt and Andrew

The ladies room was up some stairs but it was a really cute old bathroom.

I may be slightly retarded maybe

This is one side of a three sided fireplace

The elevator
My mom really liked the ceiling

My brother is the blurry guy in the background and Becky with my Christmas present (my niece Rylee) in tow.

Me and my dad

My mom's early form of entertainment

Mom driving my uncle's Yaris home

And my mom's later evening entertainment.

The accident

2008-10-15T18:35:00.001-07:00

Finally, this is the last post about the birthday party. Before the start of the party (6pm) at around 4 o'clock some men cutting trees on the slope up the hill from our house accidentally dropped a large tree branch on our gazebo breaking it in several areas. It took everything in my mom to not break into tears. She was so ahead of schedule and prepared she had started to wash the windows. Luckily my dad and brother took charge and had the gazebo dismantled in less than thirty minutes and the entire mess was cleaned up within an hour. The party went on without the gazebo and with tree branches all over the hillside because when they heard we were having a party they decided to just come back and finish the work the next day.

Cheesecake

2008-10-15T18:25:00.000-07:00

Yes, more about the 50th birthday party. For dessert I made five cheesecakes. It's unfortunate that you can't taste cheesecake through photos.

Fudge brownie cheesecake
Key lime cheesecake
New York cheesecake
Pumpkin swirl cheesecake
and Oreo cheesecake

50th birthday party

2008-10-15T17:53:00.000-07:00

Okay so September 20th was a long time ago but my Mom keeps telling me I need to post something. Here is my Dad and Uncle Richard's 50th birthday party.

My Dad eating, intently listening to someone and wearing the lovely hat that Jan made for him.

Drew

Emily and I (I always forget to un-zoom the lens)
Jan is in the chair on the left, my Uncle Richard in the middle and Jan's husband Richard on the right.
Andrew
Uncle Ted
Dad, the bear and ? (I am drawing a blank on the gentleman's name)

Dad and Mark

Uncle Richard and his work buddies
My Aunt Johanna, my Mema (my moms mom), and my mom's best friend

Emily

Me talking to a guy (Okay so my cousin obviously thought this was a big deal because she "borrowed" my camera and stationed herself in different areas of the back yard taking photos of David and I. None of them were any good and had she just asked we would have been glad to smile and take a photo. Instead the flash kept going off in our direction and we both got a kick out of the whole thing.)

And lastly, this is John. He is one of my brother's best friends and he found it amusing to make fun of me most of the evening because I have a blog. So I took a photo of him to blog.

Dinner and general update

2008-10-04T13:02:00.000-07:00

Jenny, Kameron and I went out to dinner last night after setting up our game plan for one of the many projects we have to complete this quarter. Kameron prefers to eat just the cheese from the inside of mozzarella cheese sticks.

In other news, this quarter I am enjoying my OB rotation. Last week I got to spend my clinical rotation in the newborn nursery having fun with babies, I got to touch a recently removed uterus (sounds gross, but it was actually pretty awesome). I have been attending child birthing classes. Made a trip to San Diego with my mom to meet with Jody, Elise, Laura and Daniel for teen camp 08' evaluation and 09' planning. Other assorted stuff as well but mostly studying and schoolwork.

Happy 50th birthday dad

2008-09-18T08:31:00.001-07:00

Love you lots! Have a great day.

Kern County Fair

2008-09-17T20:18:00.003-07:00

Jenny, Kameron and I went to the opening day of the fair. It was free to get in between the hours of 3-5 and Kameron was really excited about the animals.

I don't know that I would agree with their statement of the "best in the west" but whatever

Jenny knew the girl who owns this cow so Kameron got to go under the rope and pet her. Unfortunately after this he wanted to pet everything which isn't always possible.

I am not sure what he said but I love Jenny's expression

Fighting fire.

An elephant foot
Waiting to ride an elephant
Riding the elephant

The Budweiser dog. The Clydesdale's were there too but I didn't get a photo

Petting the snake. Relax Jenny he is going to be alright.

UCLA

2008-09-17T20:18:00.002-07:00

Opening day at the Rose Bowl. My dad has season tickets to UCLA football games and every year I get to accompany him to the first game. Here are the Bruins performing synchronized stretches prior to the start of the game.

My feet and the back of the shirt that all season ticket holders received in hopes of turning the Rose Bowl blue.
Glad the Bruins showed up and even won this game because our last game versus BYU was a joke, 59-0 BYU, ouch.

Happy 50th Birthday to my Uncle Richard

2008-09-17T20:18:00.001-07:00

Nascar Labor Day Weeked

2008-09-17T20:18:00.000-07:00

Dad and I spent the Sunday of Labor Day weekend in Fontana at the Nascar race. We got there early and tailgated with some friends of the Family very much like the race earlier in the season only without rain this time. We were very fortunate to have cool weather and seats under the grandstands so we got to sit in the shade. It was a "night" race with the race beginning with the sun out and setting as the race progressed. It made for some pretty photos.

2008-09-02T15:27:00.000-07:00

This past Saturday I worked a reception at the Odyssey. This time the reception was in a larger and not downstairs like the last.

I love needles

2008-09-02T15:11:00.000-07:00

Mom and I went and donated blood this past week.

Here is mom

My feet and moms feet
Blood exiting my body via the large bore needle
Another foot shot
Look at all that blood. The lady came over and said stop squeezing you are more than done.

Vegas the third and final trip of the summer

2008-09-02T14:35:00.000-07:00

On August 22 my "oldest" friend Kim (oldest in the sense that we have been friends all of our lives. Our moms were pregnant together) and I made a twenty-four hour turn around trip to Vegas. The primary purpose of our trip was to see Poison perform but we had tons of fun with just about every aspect of our trip. We got to Vegas at around 1:30 or so and checked in from that point we walked over ten miles, saw three bands won eighty six dollars and slept about six hours. The concert was at the Pearl inside the Palms casino just across the street from our hotel.

We walked across the street about two hours before the show was scheduled to start

Sebastian Bach opened

Followed by Dokken

And finally Poison

After the concert we went back to the hotel where Kim proceeded to change. We couldn't decide if we wanted to go back out so we called Kim's boyfriend Brandon for a third opinion. Needless to stay we ended up back out and headed to the Strip.

Here is Kim in the Monte Carlo rotating door

The foot shot

The sort of depressing wall art adorning the hotel room walls

And a bug.
We wrapped up our trip by having breakfast with my grandma and her friend Harriet who live in Henderson but had stayed the night in a Hotel right of the strip in the opposite direction of us.

Chair Covers

2008-08-29T09:56:00.000-07:00

My mom was ever so kind enough to make new chair covers for my roommates chairs. The chairs themselves are quite nice and extremely comfortable but the covers had definitely seen better days. My mom dismantled one of the original covers to use as a pattern and went from there. Mom's so nice she even let me help so I could claim partial ownership of the new covers.

The dismantled cover

The chair without a cover
Mom removing a stitch something
The beautiful finished project

Kaylin turns eight

2008-08-29T09:47:00.000-07:00

I have been extremely blessed by the families I have had the privilege of babysitting for. It is hard to believe that I have not watched Kaylin and her younger brother Thomas for over two years because at one point I spent more time with them than I did my own friends. I feel like I am part of their family and always will be.

How unfortunate

2008-08-20T10:20:00.000-07:00

My mom and I went to return some movies and rent new ones at the video store last night and on our way out we were slightly amused by this. We are not sure how the girl driving the car ended up in this predicament or how she planned on getting out of it. After her and another gentlemen looked at it for a few minutes they proceeded to walk away just leaving it the way it was.

2008-08-20T10:05:00.000-07:00

Last week Jenny and I went to the student health services office at CSUB to have our final TB testing for the nursing program. Kameron came along for the fun. I love getting to hang out with Kameron and am always amused by him. We got out of the car and he decided to wear his backpack. Well before we were half way to the building he was over it.

Jenny had no qualms about taking it from him and almost forgot it was there when she went in for her shot.
Good news, Jenny and I don't have TB and we also got to have blood drawn for the Varicella titer. We are hoping for positive results because we both have had chicken pox.

2008-08-14T06:56:00.000-07:00

8/8/08

2008-08-09T11:40:00.001-07:00

I worked a wedding last night at the Odyssey Restaurant. The restaurant offers panoramic views of the San Fernando Valley and other than the 100 degree weather in August could be a rather pleasant spot.

This is the patio area where the ceremony was held.

The view from the restaurant

The upstairs bar of the restaurant

And the unpaid for and unplanned water feature in the reception room.

The bar upstairs had a water pipe break and proceeded to leak and soon enough the ceiling panels began to fall. The restaurant staff was great and proceeded to handle the issue. It was however slightly amusing and probably more so because it wasn't my wedding.

Puppies

2008-08-09T11:29:00.000-07:00

This is my friend Jenny's dog Kyra and her son Kameron.

This is Kyra misserably pregnant

Kyra the beautiful Golder Retriever got knocked up by the neighbors rottweiler and they all look like the daddy.
These are all thirteen puppies she later gave birth to

So anyone want a puppy?

Dodgers

2008-08-09T11:18:00.000-07:00

I don't think I will ever get enough of the Dodgers. Last week my mom, uncle and two of my friends from the nursing program went and saw the Dodgers beat the Giants.

Rob and Kim

Me and Kim

The classic foot shot.

And finally Rob and Mia Hamm. She is the one between Rob and the older gentleman.

Nat's Wedding

2008-08-03T12:18:00.000-07:00

My friend Natalie and her fiance got married Saturday the 26th at the Flamingo in Las Vegas. It was a small wedding with family and close friends. the ceremony was very nice but the whole experience was definitely Vegas.

Natalie and her sister Ashley

Nat and the best man

Robert and the minister Natalie with her Dad

During their vows Husband and wife
Jenny and my feet

My first taxi ride At the restaurant
Jenny, Me and Natalie

Bowden and Jack pictures from Family Camp

2008-07-28T09:38:00.000-07:00

Catching up on older photos

2008-07-28T09:23:00.000-07:00

Fun with Lucy at Family Camp

Camp Maranatha in the 4th of July parade

2008-07-04T15:32:00.000-07:00

The stadium

2008-07-04T15:09:00.000-07:00

I love Dodger stadium and look forward to seeing the changes they have planned unfold, but I do think stadiums in which you can just walk up to and around are pretty great. I enjoyed that the stadium in Detroit is like this and the fact that once inside the stadium you can walk completely around the stadium. The tigers everywhere were also fun.

2008-07-04T14:35:00.000-07:00

So with the whole situation at the airport we ended up staying the night in Chicago at the Hilton and missing Friday nights game in Detroit. When the wheelchair finally made it to us and we had a decent nights sleep we headed out to Detroit. With road work and traffic we made it to the hotel a block from the stadium as the game was starting. When we finally had entered the stadium for Saturdays game it was in the second inning. It was a disappointing series with the Dodgers losing all three games and a oh so pleasant thunderstorm on Sunday which resulted in a rain delay.

Filing complaints

2008-06-13T09:19:00.000-07:00

For anyone who cares to know how I feel, I could survive without ever interacting with another American Airlines employee ever again. Oh wait, that won't work they have to get me home next Tuesday and then the previous statement can take effect. My Uncle, Mom and I were supposed to fly out of LAX on Thursday night at 11:50 we didn't even board until after two a.m. Okay, understandable delays happen. However my uncle who happens to be a quadripeligic is the first person on and the last person off of any flight. Okay again understandable however with this particular flight the airline forgot one not so minor detail. We were boarded and his wheelchair was taken to be put with baggage, imagine our suprise when we arrived in Chicago to find out his wheelchair was still in Los Angeles. From that point on we have dealt with incompetent, rude employees and are currently waiting in the airport 11:30 Chicago time 9:30 California for his wheelchair which will be on the 9:30 flight here. Meaning we will be here until at least 3:30 Chicago time. Needless to say we will not be making the 7:05 Dodger game in Detroit. Hopefully this makes some sense, I am working on less sleep than normal and am slightly frustrated. Here are some airport photos.

LAX

Chicago

We found it amusing that the airport had equipment labled SkyJack

Penny for your thoughts

2008-06-11T13:11:00.000-07:00

Me: "Hey Kameron where do pennies go?'

Kameron: "Your mouth"

Me: "No, they go in your ears"

Kam's Mom: "Uh no, they go in your pockets"

2008-06-11T13:03:00.000-07:00

The reception was at the Hyatt in Valencia. Complete with cigar bar and all, so gross. The highlight was when a wedding crasher tried to pick me up after full on walking into me.

San Fernando Mission

2008-06-11T12:12:00.000-07:00

I worked a wedding a few weeks ago and the ceremony was held in the church at the San Fernando Mission. The grounds are very nice and the weather was beautiful.

2008-05-30T15:09:00.000-07:00

When my mom came to help me with my patio (back story on her blog, yes my mom has a blog now www.malibu566.blogspot.com) she also happened to break a sprinkler pipe. It was a pipe that had just been capped off and she assured me it wasn't active and it wouldn't make a difference if she just covered it with the sand and stones. Fast-forward to the next morning. I called her to see that she made it home safely because she had left before I was even awake. At this point she told me the sprinkler line was active, the stones had shifted slightly underneath and I had to fix it. Sprinklers aren't really my forte so I went to the hardware store and bought one of everything I thought might work.

Turns out this is all I needed. It only took about five minutes to repair and now the patio is beautiful again and no more shifting has occurred.

The fifth grade

2008-05-29T11:03:00.001-07:00

So my roommate Dereem is a fifth grade teacher at the Lutheran school in Bakersfield and this is the last week of school for her students. She had saved sex education for the last two weeks of school. The fifth grade is the only grade in the school which receives this education so needless to say Dereem has been stressing. She was able to cover the material provided in the curriculum while giving a Christian perspective with biblical references. In her teaching she covered pretty thoroughly but appropriately anatomy and what is normal in "body functioning". When the material had been covered she gave the students the opportunity to ask questions via slips of paper which she then answered keeping the anonymity of the students. As her roommate I was given the opportunity to read some of their questions and had to share at least a few.

With twins do they each get a separate uterus or do they have to share one?
Why do we have to wear bras?
How do you know when you start your period?
How do you know when your water breaks?

Now if she hadn't already gone over all of this some of these questions wouldn't be so odd. Here are my top two favorite

Can the tails of sperm get cut off in any way?
How do you tell your wife or husband you're not ready to have sex yet?

False memories

2008-05-21T22:56:00.000-07:00

Well, I should have been at home writing a paper on false memories instead I went out and created some non-false memories. Bowling is so much better than writing a paper. Especially when I still have over a week to finish it.

Rob

Jenny

Micah

Bowling alley bowling shoes vs non-bowling alley bowling shoes. It really doesn't matter which pair is cuter because at least I had the luxury of knowing my feet were the only feet to have ever worn my shoes.

Brain and consciousness

2008-05-20T20:54:00.001-07:00

I am taking a course this quarter for my upper division general education requirement called the brain and consciousness. After eight and a half weeks I am not sure that I have really learned anything. Don't get me wrong I have been presented with a lot of information and have even retained a good amount of what has been presented, I'm just not sure I have learned anything. Well in today's lecture the teacher provided us with a quote from G. Spencer Brown's The Laws of Form

"Discoveries of any great moment in mathematics and other disciplines, once they are discovered, are seen to be extremely simple and obvious, and make everybody, including their discoverer, appear foolish for not having discovered them before. It is all too often forgotten that the ancient symbol for the prenascence of the world* is a fool, and that foolishness, being a divine state, is not a condition to be either proud or ashamed of.
Unfortunately, we find systems of education today which have departed so far from the plain truth, that they now teach us to be proud of what we know and ashamed of ignorance. This is doubly corrupt. It is corrupt not only because pride is in itself a mortal sin, but also because to teach pride in knowledge is to put up an effective barrier against any advance upon what is already known, since it makes one ashamed to look beyond the bonds imposed by one's ignorance.
To any person prepared to enter with respect into the realm of his great and universal ignorance, the secrets of being will eventually unfold, and they will do so in measure according to his freedom from natural and indoctrinated shame in his respect of their revelation."

My teacher who might I add begins all his e-mails with yo, then summarized this as "If you know less at the end of this course than you knew at the beginning, then your understanding has grown." The sad fact is after I successfully pass this course all I am really going to ask myself is am I conscious now?

More dodger fun

2008-05-20T16:52:00.000-07:00

Mother's day weekend my mom, dad, uncle, cousins and I went to Dodger Stadium. Unfortunately we lost, but at least we had a good time. I love going to games Dodger dogs, peanut (yes I mean peanut not peanuts. I only eat one), and baseball.

Dad and Uncle Richard

Emily

Feet

Emily, Mom and Me

2008-05-01T18:41:00.000-07:00

Kameron turned two last Wednesday and his party was on Sunday at the petting zoo. Jenny asked me to make cowboy boot cakes, she made a tractor. Here are pictures of the cakes and Kameron's party at the petting zoo. It was 95 degrees, the hottest day by far this year.

CSUB Nursing yard sale

2008-04-26T11:24:00.000-07:00

Stuff

Nursing students

And Rocky the free entertainment

CSUB Baseball

2008-04-25T11:48:00.000-07:00

In a discussion of school sports the other day I was told I knew a lot about the at this point non-existent CSUB baseball team. When asked why I said it is my school I figure I should know something about it and the information is right there on the school website. Well I found these advertisements for the first game which is February 20th, 2009 and enjoyed them so I thought I would share.

"People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do, I stare out the window and wait for spring." -Rogers Hornsby
"Baseball is the only place in life where a sacrifice is really appreciated." -author unknown
"I see great things in baseball. It's our game- the American game." -Walt Whitman
"This is a game to be savored, not gulped. There's time to discuss everything between pitches or between innings." - Bill Veeck

2008-04-25T10:31:00.000-07:00

I announced I was going to be an aunt and put pictures of the proud future grandparents, great grandparent and great great grandparent, but here are the most important people the parents. This is a picture from Tyler and Becky's engagement photos.

My friend Natalie got me this cool mug too.

Practice

2008-04-25T09:58:00.000-07:00

Kameron's second birthday was on Wednesday, but his party isn't until Sunday. Well, Jenny asked me to make a cowboy boot cake. This was my practice cake to make sure she was happy with it. It was also beneficial to bake the practice cake because we were able to practice playing with different frosting tips. The real cake will not look like the practice one as far as frosting but the shape works.

Kameron enjoying frosting

Jenny frosting cake

The final project minus the tip of the boot which Kameron ate.

Doing my part

2008-04-23T19:12:00.000-07:00

Giving blood is something I enjoy to do but haven't seemed to have the time to do lately. So today after clinical I went over to the Houchin blood bank. The facility was nicer than any I have ever donated blood in. I felt odd enough taking the pictures I did so I didn't take more to show the magnitude of the donation area.

These are my cute chucks
Needles are so awesome.

And this is my blood flowing through the tube into a collection bag.

Dodger Fun

2008-04-17T15:05:00.000-07:00

After clinical on Wednesday Jenny, Rob and I went to the Dodger game. It was Dodger blanket give away night so I now have another Dodger blanket to add to the collection. It was Jenny's first time at a major league baseball game and we all had a great time. My uncle, mom, brother, and sister-in-law were all at the game as well.

2008-04-14T06:48:00.000-07:00

Unfortunately Bruiser and Sucker have past away. Yes I named them but only to help in identifying them from each other. Bruiser went first at about 4:00 am and Sucker at about 6:15. I am sad that they are gone but am glad that I know I did everything I could.

2008-04-13T13:27:00.000-07:00

Around 8:30 Sunday morning I was woken up by a man and a woman having a conversation outside my front window. Once awake I took interest in the conversation wanting to know what was so important I needed to be woken up for. Well it turns out a stray cat had given birth to a kitten in one of the parking spots and left it there proceeding to hide under a car. After awhile I noticed there was another kitten in the middle of the road as well. The gentleman who had been talking to the woman proceeded to pick them up one by one and place them near the mom. The mom cat disappeared leaving the newborn kittens to care for themselves. Being the sucker I am I could not just leave them there to die. I went to the pet store and got kitten formula and a bottle and after cleaning them proceeded to feed them. For the past eight or so hours every one to two hours I have fed them, reheated the heat pad under them and stimulated them to urinate. Okay, maybe that last part was too much information. So far they are both still alive.

Before their bath

After their bath, they are going to need another one but I was more interested in keeping them alive and warm.

2008-04-07T15:43:00.000-07:00

My mom is going to be a grandma before she's fifty. Her wish fulfilled.

Future Grandma

Future Grandpa

Future Great grandma.

And no, I am Not pregnant.

Which also means I am going to be an Aunt.

Future Great great grandma and aunt

Congratulations to my brother and his wife Becky.

Cesar Chavez

2008-03-31T21:01:00.000-07:00

Thank you Cesar. I didn't have school today because in the state of California today was a holiday. That's right Cal State Bakersfield closed campus in recognition of Cesar Chavez. I guess it is one perk to living in Bakersfield.

A present for Kelly

2008-03-27T18:43:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Kelly

2008-03-27T18:30:00.001-07:00

Happy 24th Kelly

Love Ya

2008-03-24T20:52:00.000-07:00

The first half of spring break my mom and I spent time working on cleaning out my grandparents house. We did not even come close to finishing but did succeed in throwing away two dumpsters full of trash, the dining room is full of good will donations, and we donated twenty seven bags of clothing and bedding to the Amvets.

Drew amongst the chaos.

The view from the master bedroom deck.

Kelly rowing a canoe.

And finally, when boredom strikes organize some hangers.

2008-03-24T20:27:00.000-07:00

Two of my favorite women of God. Melissa, the pregnant one, was an adult leader in the youth group when I was a student leader. We had many a young women's bible study which she taught and unfortunately or maybe fortunately I was the only person who attended. She was also way cooler to get a ride to youth group with than my mom (Sorry mom). Congrats to her and her husband on the future addition to their family. The other woman is one of my top five favorite women easy, right up there with Nancy Beggs. I love Annie and her love for the Lord and the rest of her family is pretty great too. I was blessed to see them both on my trip to my home church during spring break.

Auto club 500

2008-02-25T20:16:00.000-08:00

Approximately 15 hours of life spent to watch 87 of 250 laps at the Auto club Speedway formerly known as the California Speedway.

87 laps seven cautions and two red flags.

Me waiting for the rain to stop Josh and my dad

I have less to complain of then some. We were fortunate to be at the start finish line and also under the overhang so our seats were dry even when it started to pour 87 laps into the race.

Jeff and Jimmie talking after the first red flag.

This is the beginning of the end. The cars would not restart until Monday.

We went back to the cars waiting to see if the race would resume but the track was too wet and at eleven o'clock they postponed the race until Monday. No we were not still at the track. We left around eight. I was bummed because I had Simulation at school in Bakersfield at 8:15 so I couldn't be in Fontana at 10 when they resumed and finished the race. I did get to watch it on TV after Sim.

Life since Super bowl

2008-02-22T11:22:00.000-08:00

Victory

2008-02-03T21:43:00.000-08:00

Family, friends, food and football. Life is good and to make it better Eli Manning and the New York Giants provided a much anticipated victory. Jenny and I drove to my parents house to watch the game in HD on the big screen tv. I made a cake shaped like a stadium. My frosting technique could use a little work but it tasted pretty good. And Mom made tacos and burritos. My cousin Harrison was a little bummed because the Patriots lost but he'll get over it. The dog was happy for the win because she got lots of treats. She is so smart she knows when the team we want to win scores a touchdown and she dances for touchdown treats. Okay, shes not that smart it helps that we all start screaming at the tv, but she sure is cute.

CHP

2008-01-29T21:47:00.000-08:00

I was in court last week to fight a ticket I received for an unsafe lane change. The arraignment was scheduled for 8:30 my mom (also my witness to fight the ticket) joined me and we made it to the courthouse on time despite the heavy rain. Well upon arrival we were notified along with several other people at the courthouse to fight tickets that the judge would be there at the earliest by 9:00am. The entire time I was in court the only thing I could think about was I hope my ticket gets dismissed or at least that I can have my money back and Josh Tate's would you rather. If I remember correctly it was would you rather meet your future spouse at a courthouse or at a hospital. Well as a nursing student I spend lots of time in hospitals and now I have more experience in courthouses and I have to say hands down I would prefer to meet my future spouse in a hospital. Oh and the officer didn't show up, so my ticket was dismissed and the money for the ticket will be coming back in 6-8weeks.

2008-01-28T20:13:00.000-08:00

My Golden birthday was last Thursday. 24 on the twenty-fourth. Or maybe more significantly the 24th anniversary of my moms golden birthday. And while I'm at it I guess the day my cousin Harrison turned the big one one aka 11. It wasn't anything fantastic but I was able to make it home to go out to dinner with my mom which was nice.

My roommate left me this birthday card with an i-tunes gift card and also took the liberty of decorating the condo. She decorated everything from my bedroom doorway, the bathroom and even the kitchen.
I went to class, pediatric lecture on heart disease anyone? Then the girls (Natalie, Ashley and Jenny) took me out to lunch at PF Chang's.

They even appeased me when I made them stop to take a picture of our feet.
Then I made the decision to skip my Research class out of fear if I didn't get on the road I wasn't going to make it home to my parents. With the 5 freeway closed at the grapevine I was forced to go the long way. I took the 58 to the 14 through rain, snow and then some more rain. The trip was made oh so much more fun by my cat who decided to moan the entire way. I can't say that I blame her. Normally she has free reign of my car but being three days post surgery she was confined to the cat carrier.
Mom and I went to dinner at the Backwoods Inn before returning home and retiring for the night. This is the only time ever that I will be exactly half of my mothers age. When I turn her age I will be two thirds of her age but that just doesn't seem as cool because by then I'll be old. Just kidding I love you mom.

2008-01-22T12:44:00.000-08:00

My kitty survived surgery and is now recovering from both the surgery and the embarrassment of a bad haircut. She is on lock down in my room to prevent her from attempting to use the stairs and is receiving prophylactic antibiotics. She has a follow up appointment at the vet in two weeks to remove her stitches. The poor thing is so pathetic it makes her cute.

Happy Birthday Kate

2008-01-13T10:18:00.000-08:00

Kate

Natalie

Lindsay

Ashley

Something I realized last night is that as nursing students all we talk about is nursing, which must have made the evening so much fun for Kate's boyfriend and her running friend. No matter how many times we tried to change the subject it always came back to nursing. The sad thing is sometimes we don't even notice until someone who has no idea what we are referring to asks or gets this look on their face like they don't know whats going on but they'll smile and nod like they do hoping that by not asking the conversation will end sooner. That and we lack the ability to decide what is appropriate or acceptable to talk about at a dinner table because nothing phases us.

2008-01-12T09:42:00.000-08:00

Yesterday Jenny, Kameron and I went to CSUB to drop off our care plans

Kameron and I looked and smelled flowers while we waited for Jenny to buy her parking pass

Then when she got a spray tan we went to the bank and then got some cookies. This is why he likes me so much.

And later in the day when Jenny went to coach cheer Kameron and I had some fun.

I especially enjoy this photo of him swinging in the back yard.

Then to round out the day we smelled more "flowers"

It's a me a Molly'o

2008-01-11T22:57:00.000-08:00

My kitty molly has been limping for a few weeks and after her obvious pain ceasing to go away I broke down today and took her to the vet. 1 physical exam, 2 x-rays and 203 dollars later my cat needs surgery. At first my thought was she's a cat and you want to operate. I got a cat because it was supposed to be a realitively cheap pet. I can't look her in the face and tell her at one year old she either has to suffer in pain the rest of her life or I could just put you to sleep. So, with my parents support January 21st my cat will go under and have an excision arthroplasty.

The vet described the problem and showed me Molly's x-rays. She is unsure if the cat has a metabolic fracture or a congenital problem but there is definately necrotic tissue in the hip joint and the head of the femur (the ball like part of the bone that is usually present is not at least to the extent it should be. Instead the neck which is thin and lacking the round head portion is causing Molly to be in pain when she moves. I started reading some things online about the surgery and it is kinda cool. They just remove the mis-shaped head/neck portion and because of the size of the animal they can function normally without being in pain.

"Excision arthroplasty is the surgical removal of the ball portion (femoral head) of the ball and socket hip joint. It is used to treat more severe cases. A "false joint" of fibrous tissue then forms. This often increases both comfort and mobility. Mild exercise is advisable immediately after surgery."

Slightly interesting

http://www.seniorpetsupplies.com/articles/Hip_Joint_Removal.html

Christmas with the family

2008-01-11T22:32:00.000-08:00

Audrey wanted to play bionicles

Harrison wore bows, my dog wore a bow tie and my beautiful mom wore an apron.

Football is a must

2008-01-11T22:12:00.000-08:00

Christmas for Kameron

2007-12-21T07:47:00.001-08:00

God is good

2007-12-21T07:30:00.000-08:00

I set out yesterday to Bakersfield to take Christmas presents to my roommate and my friend Jenny and her son Kameron. About half way home I realized my house key wasn't attached to my keys. No big deal I thought, Jenny and Dereem both have keys to the condo. Then I remembered I put them in my purse when the mechanic had my car. While digging for them I realized I forgot my wallet at my parents. Here I am on the 5 no ID, no money, no credit cards, with I'm hoping enough gas to make it to Bakersfield which is a better shot than turning around for my wallet because I am already more than half way.

Well, I made it all the way home at which point I had devised a plan. I keep my passport in my travel themed bathroom, so there is photo ID. And I keep my extra checks in my condo. I wrote a check for cash and headed to the bank. My plan worked and I was able to make it to the bank and the gas station before the idiot light went off on my gas gauge. In the midst of all of this it was raining and at one point you were able to see a full arched rainbow across the sky. It was beautiful and a wonderful reminder of how good God is.

Happy twenty fourth Kimberly

2007-12-20T22:18:00.001-08:00

Wednesday was my best friend from elementary school birthday. Usually Kim refers to me as her oldest friend which doesn't make sense because she has plenty of friends older than me so she also refers to me as her OG or original gangster. Our moms were pregnant together and for thirteen years of our lives we lived four houses apart. Anyways, a group of us got together for dinner to celebrate. Here is part of Kim with her birthday Sunday.

And here is the group. With the exception of Chris we have all known each other for what seems like forever. Us girls all went to the same elementary school, junior high and high school and some of us colleges. It was a lot of fun getting together and remembering old times and making new memories.

Katie, me, Kimberly, Jessica and Chris.

The lake show

2007-12-20T18:50:00.000-08:00

Jenny came up from Bakersfield on Sunday and we went to the Lakers game.

Holiday Open House

2007-12-20T18:12:00.000-08:00

My parents annual open house was on December first. There were over 85 people who came and I took six pictures. Luckily my moms friend took more but here are a few.

My uncle Richard and my aunt Johanna

My cousin Emily

Murryn and Lissa

My dad and Jack Dufour

Joe Bruin

2007-12-20T18:04:00.000-08:00

My unique Thanksgiving

2007-12-14T17:04:00.000-08:00

After Final Fun

2007-12-10T20:19:00.000-08:00

I finished finals November 20th. Here are some photos our celebration for passing the "toughest" quarter in nursing school. Or so they say.

Natalie, Me, Jenny

Jenny with Jesse

Hong and Antonio

Friday Night Dinner

2007-11-18T19:57:00.000-08:00

Friday night Natalie made enchiladas so we could study for finals and celebrate her sister Ashley's birthday.

It was Ashley's 22nd birthday.

We supported CSUB nursing by buying the cake from Coldstone on Thursday.

Coldstone

2007-11-18T19:11:00.000-08:00

The nursing class of 2009 had a fundraiser at Coldstone on Thursday. We actually got to work behind the counter serving ice cream. I had the first shift and then hung around for awhile.

Phoenix International Raceway

2007-11-17T18:08:00.000-08:00

Last weekend I went on a road trip to Phoenix for the Nascar race. I know, I am lame and I like Nascar. Well, Jenny was supposed to go with me and due to a job obligation could not come. It worked out and I ended up taking my cousin Emily.

The drop off. Emily is only fifteen so her mom dropped her off to me at McDonald's halfway between her house and my parents.

The journey begins. This is Emily.

Scenery

Welcome to

Arizona Emily had never eaten at a Hard Rock and since it was walking distance from our hotel we had dinner there

The hotel

Getting ready for race day

We found the car

A reason to come back

The guy in the really tight shirt in the middle thought we were taking his picture. He figured out we had never been to a waffle house which was made more obvious when we had to ask where the door is.

PIR

We had really great seats just after the stop/finish line. Thanks to Sea Watch International (aka the family company of the number 1 car driver Martin Truex Jr)

Dale Jr.

Jeff Gordon (I really wanted him to win)

Forgot the camera was on zoom

My shoe was untied so Emily helped me out

Progress

2007-11-17T17:04:00.000-08:00

My parents home remodel has come a long way. Here are some newer pictures. The house is further than the pictures here show and is still a work in progress.

The old furniture in the new room. The new furniture got delivered this week and I have yet to see it in the house thus you can't see it yet either

Mom wanted a convection oven and a conventional oven

My dog and me waiting outside the house while the concrete floors were being done

The new floor is very shiny but it came out nice

Halloween

2007-11-01T13:55:00.001-07:00

I got to spend the day in the OR! I had so much fun. I got to see a partial amputation of the phalange of the middle finger. The best part was when you could hear the surgeon chipping away at the bone. As a nursing student all we can do is watch but it was still pretty cool. I also saw the removal of a large cyst from a patients wrist and a lap chole or laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Lindsay also made "witches fingers" out of pretzel sticks, white chocolate and dots.

My mom is the greatest

2007-10-26T17:36:00.000-07:00

Today my mom drove out to Bakersfield to return my kitty to me, bring me a buffet, take me to lunch and buy me a few home goods.

My mom

Molly the kitty (aka pip-squeak)

the buffet

a napkin holder

and a grocery store bag holder

I rest my case that my mom is the greatest. Thanks mom!

Clinical

2007-10-26T16:58:00.000-07:00

Here are some photos from clinical post conference as well as a fountain and figure in one of the many hospital hallways. The hospital I am in this quarter in a Catholic Healthcare West hospital.

I love the expression on Lindsey's face. She is the one peeking around Molly.

Jenny was over having her photo taken so here is the back of her head.

2007-10-23T14:40:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was my roommate Dereem's twenty-sixth birthday. I took the liberty of decorating with 99 cent store decorations and baked her a cake.

The box, yes it was a mix, said to loosely cover the cake. Well after inserting 26 candles I realized I don't have a cake carrier or cake display so I improvised thus the trash bag.

We only lit one of the candles using the smoke detector as are excuse.

In all it was very fun and the cake was pretty good too.

Still more photos of the roadtrip

2007-09-24T20:25:00.000-07:00

Remodel

2007-09-24T20:13:00.001-07:00

My parents are adding 800 square feet to their house. These pictures were taken back in June so the house has come a long way but isn't done yet. The kitchen remodel is the primary task left.