CORNWALL

On June 2 my cousin, Sharon, and I will leave for a vacation in Cornwall, England. We fly into Bristol and take the train to Bath. We have reservations for 2 nights in Bath. Then off we go to tour the Cornish Coast. I am SOOOOOOOOOOO EXCITED!!! This will be my first vacation with Sharon and my first trip to England!!!!

I will keep you posted.

Love, Kelli

A day of writing

This morning I awoke to a cold and drizzly day. I had coffee with my friend, Dana, then came home and did some work in Michael's old room. I am re-doing that room. And what a mess!!! Oy, thats a whole other story!
Then I met Mom and Molly for lunch at Paula's. I got home about 2:00 and sat down to write. What fun! I have been sitting here just writing the afternoon away. Michael came in and I read him a new young adult fiction short story I am working on. I am so glad I have the time to write ....
How is everyone doing? I am just loving my new life. I am feeling thankful and happy.

"Slow Down Your Movin' Too Fast"

I LOVE NOT WORKING!!! I have to keep singing the Simon and Garfunkel song "Feelin' Groovy" when they sing "slow down your movin' too fast, got to make the morninin' last." I have found myself hurrying like I did when I was in "work mode." I have to learn to slow down. I am on my own time now. No need to rush.
I love getting up at 6:30. This is my natural awake time. I have my coffee, get on the computer (like I am doing now) and then I clean up the kitchen. I move upstairs to make the bed and then hop in the shower. Then I let the day decide what I will do next. Today at 9:00 my friends Joanie and Rosie are coming for coffee and chat. Then after that I don't know what I will do....read? Write? Work on my cross stitch? Sweep in Michael's old room? Who knows? Maybe I will just sit and think and let my mind wander. Yesterday as I was riding my bike a thought came to me. I thought that if someone said to me, "Kelli, you must start to look for a job." I would simply smile and say that the happiness I have had since walking out the door of FWN has been worth ten years of jobs. I would not trade this feeling of freedom and lightness for anything! But I don't have to work or look for work! I am free!!!! I am so happy I could spit nickels.
I know your probably getting nauseated reading how damn glad I am to be not working, but I can't help it. If I know one thing --- then I know this.......Follow your dream. Do it. Have faith that you can live the life you want. I am proof of this. No matter how big or how small....whether it is quitting your job, or changing jobs, or losing weight or dying your hair or whatever === do what you feel in your heart. You can make it happen and only you.
Love you always,
Kelli

A Beautiful Day

Oh! It is so beautiful outside!!! Another gorgeous, warm day! Birds are singing and the kitties are all laying in the windows. I have a delicious cup of joe in front of me and I am so damn free and happy I could just roll over and whistle Dixie! Today I am going to walk, visit Mom, read and make a quiche for supper. I would like to ride my bike today too. Maybe I could get Archie to go with me! I am so happy. My heart is smiling all the time and I just can't believe my good fortune to be unemployed!!!! And happy about it! Thank God Archie has a good job!

I ordered new curtains for the window at the top of the stairs. They are white Priscilla's. They looked really cute in the picture.

Hope all of you have a fabulous Sunday and think Sunshine. Love to all, Kelli

Breakfast with Molly

This morning I met my sister, Molly, for breakfast at Spyros. We had a great visit and the coffee at Spyros is awesome. Molly is six years younger than I am. Here is a picture of me and my sister.

Books, books, books, books

I couldn't get into Jodi Picoult's new novel either. So now I am reading The Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet. I think this will be a winner!!!!

I just had to tell you

How incredibly lucky I feel. I was sitting outside on the patio this morning reading my Jodi Picoult book. It is almost 80 degrees outside. Our first really warm day of Spring. I looked up into the cloudless sky and I had to blink back tears so overcome I was with joy and happiness. Here I am sitting outside on this gorgeous Friday morning listening to the birds sing and the chimes tinkling in the breeze, a book in my hands. Everyone else is working, it seems! I can't believe my good fortune! I am so grateful that I have this gift, this opportunity to stay home and be unemployed!
I took a walk this morning and it was so pretty outside. I thought to myself all the things I wanted to do today. I don't want to miss a second of this day, this great life that I have!!! I am thanking God and the Universe for all these good, fabulous things that have been dropped in my lap. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!

WHAT I AM READING

I am reading Jodi Piccoult's new book Handle With Care. I couldn't get into Geometry of Sisters.
What are all of you foks reading?

DAY 2 OF FREEDOM

My first day of self employment was yesterday and oh what a day!!! I had a damn ball!!!! I went to a new hairdresser and got highlights/color and a cut. She was great! I walked to the hair salon and back. It was so pleasant out. Here is a pic of my new hair. Michael came over and here are some pics of Michael, me and the kitties.

Let the journey begin

I am a free woman!! Good Lord in himmel, I am a free woman!!! Today is the first day I have woke up at home and not gone to work! I slept til 6:30!! I think 6:30 a.m. is my natural awake time. I got up and had one cup of joe and then I got another cup of joe and here I am!

I went to Chicago Sunday and came home yesterday about 2. Had a fab time, as usual. Bree is so much fun and such an inspiration to me. She is an abundance of love and support for me.

Sunday Kathryn picked us up and we went to McCook. Visited with Raul and the adorable Grandma Stephy and the dogs. Bree fed the dogs right out of the can with a big spoon. They are so cute! They each await their turn and don't push each other out of the way. Emmie (or now known as Meggie, or Squiggly Wiggly) is the baby of the group and very smart. She is so friendly and such a good dog! Kathryn is a wonderful mother to her.

After visiting with Raul and Grandma, the three girls went to Kona Grille for lunch. It was delicious!!! I had pot stickers for the first time and I really like them! For my entree I had the BBQ pork sandwich with onion sticks and slaw. For dessert I had warm apple crisp with ice cream. We had a fun, great time catching up. Kathryn is so funny and such a generous person. I know she would give a person the shirt off her back or her very last penny.

After lunch we waddled over to Yorktown Mall. It was cold and rainy outside so we decided to go to an indoor mall. I didn't buy anything but Bree got a few things and she bought me a notebook at this cute store with lots of Hello Kitty things in it. The little character on my notebook is called RaaRaa. Adorable!

We went back to McCook about 5 and sat with Grandma some more and Bree fed the dogs again. Then Kathryn took us home. That night John, Bree and I went to see the movie State of Play. I was bored to death and fell asleep in the movie. Bree said I was snoring in the movie!!! I was so embarrassed! She said right in a crucial part of the movie it was all very quiet and then I snored real loud! Oh my GAWD. I hate people that snore in movies. The poor man next to me! oy!

The next day John left for work and Bree had to work the lunch shift. I told her not to worry about me. I would be fine in the big city by myself. It was cold and drizzly. I walked from Bree's apartment to Shedd Aquarium along Lake Shore drive. It was a beautiful walk along Lake Michigan. Hardly any other pedestrians were on the walkway. I went inside Shedd Aquarium but I didn't pay to go through. I will wait for a "free day." Did the same thing at Field Museum. I will save my money for a day when there is free admission. From the museums I walked to Millenium Park. What a cool place. I can't wait to go back when all the flowers are in bloom. I then went to PJ's for a cup of their delicious chili. Bree, the best waitress in the world, waited on me. I got to meet two of her friends, Anya and Alex. What nice people! Then home to kick back and relax. I was only home about an hour when Bree called and said she was getting off early! So she came home, changed, and off we went. It was nasty out and we were cold, so we ducked into Grand Luxe and had an early supper. I love Grand Luxe. There was hardly anyone there because it was a Monday and early for supper. We took a long time eating and talking and laughing. Bree is such fun. We never run out of things to talk about. We shared the chocolate molten cake with ice cream and oy! It was fabulous! Bree said we should have each had our own it was so good!

When we got home we got into our jammies right away. John was at singing practice so it was a hen party for two. Bree is knitting and while she was knitting we talked and giggled. Then we played on the computer. Listened to Susan Boyle sing --- amazing! I want to buy her CD when it comes out. We played lots of double solitaire. Bree kept beating me! Then John came home and we watched TV and hung out with him. I fell asleep first, of course. Slept like a rock! I was wore out after the big, busy day!

Tuesday was cold, drizzly and nasty again. John went off to work and Bree worked lunch again. I went off to Filene's Basement, Anthropologie and Barnes and Noble. Then I stopped at Dominicks to buy the fixings for quiche with brocolli and mushrooms in it. I told Bree and John I would cook tonight for them! I took the groceries home and then went over to Fox and Obel for a cup of chili. Chili was good, but PJ's has them beat hands down. After lunch I went back home and read. Bree got off early again! We got in our jammies and hunkered down for the night. John came home and we had dinner. We stayed in all night. Talking, playing double sol, laughing, telling stories, watching TV. It was great just hanging out with them.

The next day I had to go home but I will be back to see them again very soon. I had a wonderful, fun time!!! Oh! Bree got me a keychain, cookies and chocolates in gorgeous, adorable tins from Switzerland! I fell in love with the chocolate! So smooth and creamy. Oy.

Last night I started Season 4 of "24". Wow! This season looks really good! The actress that played Trina in Swingtown is in this season and I loved her!!! Good to see her again!

And here I am, friends! Day one of my new life! Today is just beautiful. Sun is shining. I am getting a cut and color at 12:30 today. I am going to clean the house a little bit and not try to go overboard. I will just keep remembering that I am off for a long time and I don't need to build Rome in a day.

Hugs and love to you! I'll keep you posted on the life of Just A Girl.

Kelli

The top pic is me and Stacy, then Dr. Mueller and Dr. Khan and me, me and Cheryl, and me and Dr. Chang, my boss.

My last day of work

It's here. My last day of work. I can't believe it is finally here. Dr. Chang had a dinner party for me at Club Soda Weds night and it was wonderful!!! My close friends from work came and some of the doctors. We had a great time. It will be hard this afternoon when I leave Dr. Chang for the last time. Everyone has been so fabulous to me the past few days. Wishing me well and telling me they are jealous of me for getting to quit work! ha!!

Here are some pics from the dinner party Weds night.

3 more days

3 more days of work. I am getting butterflies in my tummy now. Tonight Dr. Chang is having a dinner party for me at Club Soda. I know that Friday, our last day working together, will be hard for me. When I put that last patient in the room it will be hard to keep tears at bay. I truly have loved working at the neuro center and if things wouldn't have changed with Dr. Chang going part time I never would have quit. I really loved working with him. But every decision has a reason....I became Dr. Chang's nurse because Dr. Later moved to the southwest office and if I would have chosen to go with Dr. Later I never would have been Dr. Chang's nurse! So by my quitting and moving on I will open so many doors and have so many other opportunities. But my main goal is myself. My journey of taking care of myself both physically and mentally. I vow to learn one new thing every day. I am going to walk and ride my bike and try not to use my car. I am going to eat better, have a cleaner house, be a better friend to myself. I once heard someone say (or I read it somewhere) that a person should talk to themselves like they are talking to the dearest most loved person in their life. When your dearest friend or loved one is sad and feeling down, you wouldn't rip them up one side and down the other, would you? Of course not! So you shouldn't do that to yourself either. I know that I can make a huge, happy difference in my life my leaving this job. I did not come to this decision with a light heart. So I will keep all of you posted and let you know how Friday, my last day, goes. I am going to Chicago for a few days to stay with Bree on Sunday. Yipppeee!!!
Love to you all,
Kelli
PS i am reading True Colors by Kristen Hannah now.....

An email can make a difference...

I got up this morning and had my coffee (yum good) and got a chuckle out of Walt and Kinzie. They play so cute....Then I got on the computer to check my email even though I knew I wouldn't get anything but junk and FWD's. (which I loathe!!!)

And good Lord in himmel, I got an email from BREE!!! It made my entire day and it was only 7:45 in the morning!!!

So email someone you love or have been thinking about. It will make their day!!!

Toodles and love,

Kelli

PS This weekend is awesome! I am having a take time for Kelli weekend and soon I will be having a take time for Kelli LIFE!!! yeehawwww

Start each day with a smile

It is much easier to smile than it is to frown. Mornings are easy for me to be cheerful and smiley and happy as I am a morning person. It is at the end of the day that my momentum starts to decline and I am less likely to smile and less willing to get out and do something. After I am done working at my job I hope that changes. I'd like to alter my inner clock a bit and pace myself so I have more energy and desire to do things in the evenings. (besides sit and watch TV and curl up with my books) Watching TV and reading are fine things to do in the evening and I can still do those things, but I want to get out and get some exercise before I settle in for the night.
Any suggestions?
I am counting down the days til I am happily unemployed. I have a list 2 pages of long of things I want to do and places I want to go. I am constantly adding to the list!
Happy Friday to everyone! Have a good weekend, everybody. Kelli

Kelli says...

Light a candle and smile deep in my heart
Be thankful for my girlfriends
Hold my brother and sister close
Be tolerant of Mom...she is 86 years old
Appreciate Archie and the blessings he has given me....without him I would not be able to stay home and be unemployed
Be nicer
I cannot even think about how much I love Bree and Michael without tears brimming in my eyes. They are my life, my soul, my pride. They are the absolute best people in the entire world and I am so proud of them.
Not everyone is blessed with kids that turn out to be your best friends.
Peace and love and sunshine...always sunshine.........................Kelli

Kiss TODAY hello and point me towards Tomorrow.....

I did it. I quit. Last Friday after work I told my boss, Dr. Chang, that I was leaving. He is going to miss me but he said he thought I was doing the right thing. He understands why I'm leaving and wishes me the very best. Then yesterday the other nurses found out and of course the two bitches who have done their best to ruin my life were as cold as ice. The other nurses were sad to see me go, but happy for me. They wish they could leave and embark on a whole new life.
What a sad, negative, toxic environment that nursing department is. I am free!!! Good Lord in Himmel, I am free!!!
So no more looking back and saying "I wish I woulda" ... now it is hello Today!!! All of my possibilities and hopes and dreams and good thoughts and karma are there at my feet! I feel happy and feel like a huge load has been taken off my heart and my shoulders. How lovely it feels to just walk away.
Sharon and I have our trip to Cornwall in June....Molly and I are going to Savannah for a sisters vacation in September, I am going with Mom to the Navy Reunion in October in Myrtle Beach. I have alot of days to spend with Bree in Chicago.........my friend, Linda, wants me to come to Milwaukee before her kids get out of school... I will pop up there before Cornwall.
Janet and I have our Chick mini vacation...........hopefully, we can get the cottage at Union Pier again from her sister. If not, we will go someplace else.
Turning around and looking past through the fog and seeing what is really there and really true took me a long time. But eventually I got here. Please, darling friends, help me remember how good this feels if I start to falter and start to lose my confidence. Make me remember that I must be true to who I am and that I have ONE LIFE and this is it.
Good thoughts to you guys always!!! I'll keep you posted. I love you guys.
OH!!! I'm reading the Maeve Binchy novel Heart and Soul and it is good. My next to read is Kristin Hannah's True Colors.
Think of all the EXTRA READING TIME I WILL HAVE when I quit work!!!!