Bigger or Better: Life outside of Texas

Though some 30 days behind the customary New Year, I find it irresistible to make a note of resolutions. Most people resolve to do something about their health (hence the quote from Mark Twain, who, I must say, is one of my favorite comedians). Well, I fall into that category too. Last year I decided to eat a fruit or vegetable every day. Notice the wording, it was key to my success. I said "a", not "one", not "a serving", just a vague "a." That meant that I could, without too much guilt, count the peppers on my pizza as a vegetable, and the applesauce in my lunch as a fruit. Also notice the "or;" it was not necessary to eat the vegetable pizza and the applesauce in the same day. Basically, the 100% that I am proud to report on my 2011 goal is because I created loopholes. Fortunately I went 'over and beyond' my goal for a sizeable portion of the year, for which I'm sure my health is grateful. This year, I think I

When I was in nursing school, I never ever thought I would work with cancer patients. It wasn't from any sort of dread, but the thought just was a nebulous almost-possibility that never touched my mind. I wouldn't have become a cancer nurse but for my very random presence at a job fair where a cancer hospital was presenting, at the time when I was on the verge of accepting a different position. I cannot say that I picked the better option, because I never experienced the other choice, but I am saying that I can see good in my current job. As ironic as it is, even though most of the time I cannot remember my patients' names, I feel like I have a see-understand-respect-love moment when I go into their rooms. I got a realization the other day: hair does not matter. This is a big, cathartic understanding from a girl who used to pray that her hair wouldn't fall out [I was a tween, and under the impression that once a hair falls out, nothing replaces it, which freaked me ou

Life is compared to many things: cherries, chocolates, a game, etc; but it is usually contrasted with a picnic. I would like to know where these philosophers were picnicking, as I find life to be very much like a picnic. I imagine an ideal picnic, just like I hope for an ideal life, but life, just like the picnic, is never ideal. Maybe the wind is great for flying kites, but it blows the napkins away. In attempts to enjoy nature, natural things such as ants and bees annoy us. In our effort to live life, the inherent obstacles frustrate us. The grass may be itchy. or wet. or not there. My life is such a picnic. Good thing I love picnics.

A disadvantage of being a hospital nurse is that really, there are no such things as holidays. Probably true for police officers, fire fighters, etc. I sympathize. So what do I do? I create my own breaks in-between normal shifts. It was by necessity a short trip to Utah, but I think we fit in a week's worth of activities: Alyssa and Kim. by the way, Alyssa won the Tucano's contest Right after getting off the plane, I joined up with friends to eat at Tucano's, which is something that has not spread down to Texas yet. I unfortunately did not do the food justice, and got soundly out-eaten by everybody else. Following that probably unwise decision to eat while wearing snug riding pants, I compounded my un-wisdom by playing DDR and by running around a small ropes course, both for the first time in my life. I am proud to say that I did not throw up, that I got a B+ for dancing skills, and that although I found out that I am nervous of heights, I did the hardest section of