Our lot is a wildlife refuge!

When we got back from TN, Jason was looking at the grass outside and was wondering why there was a dead spot by our hose box. Usually that side of the house stays nice and green since it's shaded. He was going to remove the dead grass and look at what was there!


Rabbits!

TN/NC pictures

Just a few more pictures of TN/NC trip. Blogger decided I wasn't supposed to add so many to one post I guess!





Cherokee, NC



World's Fair Park Knoxville, TN



The Appalachian Trail is at the top of the Smoky Mountains. This divides TN from NC.

I added two more states!

Smoky Mountain National Park











Pigeon Forge--Home of "Dollywood"



Gaitlinburg

Just this past week, Jason was in Oak Ridge, TN for the whole week. He has spent many weeks out there for training and I've never been there. Finally, we decided I would go this time. I spent from Wednesday until Friday there. Thursday was my day to sight see while he was in training. I drove from Oak Ridge to Pigeon Forge, through Gaitlinburg and into the Smoky Mountains. This crossed over into North Carolina and I went through Cherokee before taking I-40 back around to Knoxville. I stopped by World's Fair Park and saw the University of Tennessee. Actually, I saw more of it than I expected because I was looking at the map the wrong way and drove all the way through it and then some! Pretty much all the pictures here were taken from my car (first time I personally rented one!). One of the reasons why I didn't stop much was because I had gotten a cold on Wednesday and so I wanted to see things, but didn't want to do much else! Also, it's a lot nicer visiting places with someone else I found out!

Sculptures

Two weeks ago, Jason had some inspections up in Marshfield. I went with him and did some shopping and then we checked out this sculpture garden. It was very neat. I wanted to buy the flower or some cattails, but they weren't priced quite right for me.

Welcome Brandon John!

Here's Brandon, son of Jerry and Gina, who was born on July 30th. He's just over 5 pounds!

Health Care

I'm sitting here at work, manning the desk while the technicians look for new glasses. You probably think it's a slow day today, but it's been far from that. We had 8 people in the first 2.5 hours. So...my thought for today is....what does anyone reading this think about walk in appointments for health care? That could be dentists, optometrists, general physicians, chiropractors, etc. I'm not talking urgent care appointments...just that you decided you wanted something done (ie a new pair of glasses, a cleaning, etc) and walked into a facility. Is this something that will continue to become dominant in the US health care because people value their time more than their care? As you can probably read into this..I'm not a fan of walk ins. We do take them where I work, but we fit them in around our appointments. Because of that...our appointments can often get behind if the person that walked in was more of a challenge than we could fit in at the time. I love it when people that are over 75 com in and are wheelchair bound and expect to have the undivided attention of the doctor for at least 30-45 minutes (can't rush most older people) and expect to not have to wait at all. I have to admit that if we have a lot of appointments and a lot of walk ins that my care and time I take with the patients decreases...how much depends on how far behind I get and the type of patients there. I really wish people would have realistic expectations when they ask for a walk in appointment. What do you all think? Do you walk in for health care appointments? If a place said they took walk ins would you think that you couldn't schedule an appointment? Let me know what you think.

Meme--New word for me!

I've been instructed by my little sister to put this meme (had to look up the definition) on my blog and like the good older sister I am, I'm doing that!
I've bolded the ones that pertain to me and added one onto the end. Feel free to copy to your blog and do the same!


I've run away from home.
I watch the news.
I own an ipod.
I am a sucker for hair/eyes.
I don't kill bugs.
I've slipped out an "lol" in a real conversation. [Just to be silly.]
I love Spam.
I bake well.
I own something from Abercrombie.
I have a job.
I am in love with someone.
I am guilty of tYpInG lIkE tHiS.
I am self-conscious. [At times.]
I like to laugh.
I have cough drops when I'm not sick.
I can't swallow pills.
I've been out of this country.
I believe in ghosts.
I am really ticklish.
I love chocolate.
I bite my nails.
I've seen a shooting star.
I have had a serious surgical procedures.
I've laughed and had milk/soda come out of my nose.
I've pushed all the buttons on an elevator.
I've been skydiving.
I've been bungee jumping.
I've broken a bone.
I've gotten stitches.
I've been to Niagara Falls.
I've gotten the chicken pox.
I've been to Asia.
I've ridden in a taxi.
I've gone on a blind date.
I've been to Europe.
I am/have been married.
I've seen someone dying.
I've driven over 1000 miles in one day.
I've been to Canada.
I've been on a plane.
I've eaten sushi.
I've been snowboarding.
I've been skiing.
I've been ice skating.
I've been to a car show.
I'm going to or have gone to college. [Go Vikings! Go Boxers!]
I hate surprises.
I've been to the World Trade Center. [former site]
I love filling out forms/surveys.
I've started my own business. [Almost!]

A Techie at One and a Half

I've heard of getting your kids a cell phone when they start school, but at 1.5 years old???? And unable to talk yet??

10 year HS Reunion

Can you believe it's been so long? Here are some friends from my HS that were able to make it to the reunion. Nola--wish you could have been there!




Scott & Heather




Nicole & Darren




Aaron & Dawn