In 20 days, my mum will be here for a three week vacation. 

I haven't seen my mum in an obscene length of time; this visit is far too long overdue and is much anticipated.  I'm so looking forward to just hanging out at home with her, watching her interact with her grandchildren as she gets to know them up close and personal.  It's going to be a wonderful opportunity for everyone.   My dad won't be there in person, but he will certainly be there in spirit.  He's always here in spirit, I feel him all the time.  I dreamt about him a couple of months ago; he was standing behind me, talking to me.  He said "I shall always be with you" - and when I say that he said those words, I mean that I actually heard his voice saying the words.  I heard him, and I believe him.  He WILL always be with me.

I have in my possesion some leaflets about the University of Illinois and the University of Missouri- St Louis BSc nursing programs.  I'm seriously thinking about applying - maybe not for the 2007 class, but certainly for the 2008 class.  I love medicine, and more importantly, I'm good at it.  I seem to have a natural aptitude for it, and I don't want to waste that.  When I was little I wanted to be a doctor - I'd still like to be a doctor, actually, but that's a hell of a lot of school and I'm afraid that I'd drop out halfway through with nothing to show for my time but a few college credit hours and a frightening student loan balance.  A 4 year degree in nursing is less scary, and I can always go on to medical school if I decide that nursing just isn't enough of a challenge for me.  Nursing would also give me the opportunity to work in the pallative care field; to continue on my work with hospice.  I just don't have the words to explain how good, how rewarding, helping someone die in peace and with dignity is.  It has made me a more compassionate, tolerant, patient human being and I have been forever changed (for the better) by it. 

My patients are doing well, and our relationship is flourishing. There's a level of truse between us that is unlike anything I've ever experienced before.  I've been telling them from the start that I won't ever ask them to do anything that's not in their best interests, but as they say, the proof of the pudding is in the eating.  I've proven to them that I will do what I say I'm going to do, and so the trust has been established and has grown.  They're good people, and I'm very attached to them - and I'll do anything I can to protect them and the trust that we've established.

I'm addicted to knitting socks.  I've got patterns and yarn and needles galore, and I'm always on the lookout for new patterns and yarn.  They're relatively fast to knit, practical, and you get a LOT more sock yarn to the ounce than you can chunky sweater yarn - what's not to like?!

Stormy seas are brewing chez nous.  The water has been choppy for a while now - and that's all I'm going to say about that.

My hair is down to my collarbones now.  It hasn't been this long in.....oh, about 25 years.  Wow.  That's a long time, huh?!  I like it, though, and I think it suits me.  I'm not planning on cutting it off any time soon. 

The company that my big brother has worked for for 20-ish years now belongs to him.  Yep, that's right: he bought it.  Our dad would have been so proud....