Aloha for Almost Wordless Wednesday

Aloha which means Hello and Goodbye, is truly a multitasking word.
I am also a multi tasker, Taking Care of Business at The Motivation Station this month. Please do drop in. (That phrase makes me happy, it really is the the little things. Either that or it's late and I'm toast after a tough day at work.) Aloha and Mahalo.

Hosting our 1st High School Party

We have been recovering this week from our oldest son's 15th Birthday party celebrated with about two dozen of his friends. It was a Huge Success with lots of smiles and laughs to go around, filled with Teen Perfect Moments including karaoke-
Lots of yummy food-
More yummy food-
And of course finished off with cake and ice cream including these giant chocolate chip cookie cakes.

To make a Giant Chocolate Chip Cookie-

Prepare enough cookie dough for 3 dozen cookies.

Place the ball of dough on an 11 inch aluminum pizza pan and flatten out until the dough is one inch from the edges and even in thickness.

Bake giant cookie according to package directions for 2 inch sized cookies, 350 degrees F for approximately 11 minutes or until edges are golden brown.

Thank you for sharing in the deliciousness of these moments and Thank you to Lori of Perfect Moment Monday and The Motivation Station for Show and Tell Saturday.

Some Weeks You're the Windshield

Some weeks you're the windshield, some weeks you're the bug. This week at work, I've been both.

That sound you hear is the sound of work getting my bootay. Gosh, no other way to put it...

How do you explain to a patient who pays $20 per month total for her 12 prescriptions that she is contractually obligated to pay this? And the pharmacy is required by law to collect her copay Even when she says she can't afford it? But her $150 cigarette per month habit isn't an issue for her?

Most doctor's offices have no interest, or are too busy, or all of the above, to help patients get needed equipment, medications, and services. I have become an expert at badgering these folks in a nice way to address these patients' needs.

It was the Best of Times, It was the Worst of Times...

The appreciation from many of my patients is amazing, humbling, and inspiring.

There is also a lot of anger here on the front lines of health care, everybody wants every service, medicine, surgery covered without paying for it.

I work hard to remember I am not the one with the illness. I am not part of the problem, I am part of the solution because I listen and care.

People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care.

Paradise Pastry is well, Paradise!

Some Sweets for the sweet at Paradise Pastry and Bakery in Glendale, California.


For more delectability, no matter what your favorite color or flavor, please visit-

Martha@Menagerie for The Color Carnival.
Beverly at How Sweet the Sound for Pink Saturday.
For more Pink Saturday artistry, Enchanted Rose Studio.
Share what's new with Show and Tell Saturday at The Motivation Station.
For fun with words, books, and wit, Petty Witter has pretty banter.

Thank you so much and please tell me which confection you would like?

Girlfriend Lessons

Tomorrow, a group of us girlfriends are going out to lunch to celebrate a recent birthday. The party includes-

A girlfriend who talks incessantly, the rest of us joke that you don't contact her by telephone or email unless you have at least 30 minutes to spare. Really. Whew, she can talk the hind legs off a cat.

A girlfriend whose domineering husband, not too many of us, (myself included), can stand. He's arrogant and insecure which is all together much too tiresome.

A girlfriend who regularly teaches and preaches, wow, my mom doesn't preach to me this much, ever. (Maybe she should have).

A girlfriend whose family has been over to our house for parties and dinners dozens of times and who doesn't ever reciprocate. (And that's okay, we enjoy their company and accept this is part of the dealio.)

The thing about girlfriends is, this stuff really doesn't matter cause you know they have your back and you have theirs when it matters and how it matters.

Happy St.Patrick's Day

May those who love us, love us;
and those who don't love us,
may God turn their hearts;
and if He doesn't turn their hearts,
may he turn their ankles
so we'll know them by their limping.

Playing Dress Up

We got to play dress up for my husband's work party held at Lucky Strike Bowling Alley near the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles.

Your hosts for the evening, Ace and Trixie.
Fred was able to stop in and play a couple of games.
Dressing up isn't just confined to the grown ups, our youngest son appeared in a performance of Taylor Swift's Love Story at the school talent show.

Have you dressed up for fun lately? (You can take that any which way you want...;o)
Thank you!

School Staff Treats

Today, I am participating in The Motivation Station Show and Tell Time where you feature a recipe, a must have kitchen gadget, a great new restaurant, or other foodie fun.
Recently, I have been quite busy with our sons' school activities, (a little too busy, really), and these activities often involve food. Not so much food for the students, but for Staff Appreciation lunches and the "Green Room" for the Show Choir Directors at our school competition.
I wanted to share a couple of the dishes I prepared which includes "Roll Up" wraps, of which I made three kinds, vegetarian style with hummus, olives, and green peppers, turkey with lettuce and mayo, and ham and cheese.




Yesterday, I made "veggie pizza" with a baked crescent roll crust-

Layered with a cream cheese, sour cream, and ranch dressing mix-
Then topped with sliced chopped vegetables including broccoli, cauliflower, tomatoes, black sliced olives, a few onions, and shredded colby jack cheese.

Do you have any recipes for buffets and pot lucks that you rely on to keep the crew happy and well fed? Thank you!

It's Like Burying the Survivors

So do you see anything wrong with this sentence written by our 12 y/o son for a report on the World War II Battle of Bastogne?

"Some of these German spies escaped, were found and sent to court, or executed."

My husband said, "It's like burying the survivors". Really?

Big Week

This was a BIG week for me, so much so that my bloggy time took a major hit. Work, family, and home stuff really gets in the way of important things like blogging, doesn't it?? *Sigh*.

I Finally took the Case Management Certi.fication exam after studying for the last 6 weeks. I think I did well, I should know the results in a week or so. And if I Never take another standardized test again, that's OKAY. Actually, that would be really Good. Really, really Good. Oh, and please share your opinion re.communication techniques, which is the more effective interview skill, maintaining constant client eye contact or leaning forward slightly?? Yowzah.

My parents live in Rancho Bernardo, near Poway and the site of the murder of high school student, Chelsea King. They were on their way home during a candle light vigil for this child and were stopped at a intersection for thirty minutes while the hundreds of vigil attendees crossed the street. My parents didn't complain, (atypical of my mother btw), and my mom said, "It's terrible enough to lose a child to cancer like we did, but to violence, it's unspeakable and horrible." So true. Rest in peace, beautiful girl, our hearts goes out to you and your family.

On a happier note, our family went to see Bon Jovi last night at the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles. (My husband got all of us tickets for a Christmas present, is that cool or WHAT??) It was our sons' first Rock Concert and they loved it. Bon Jovi put on Great Show and man, they sound Good. It was really touching at the end of the show to see the band members embrace and express genuine appreciation and thanks to the audience. Jon Bon Jovi said, "I know it's not 1984 anymore and to still be filling up a stadium in 2010 is not something I take for granted." Right On, Jon and Thanks to all of the band for showing us the love and sharing your wonderful music!

I am taking today off to get ready for our annual community wide yard sale. In my little tract, we have about 400 houses and something like 100+ families participate in selling for this yard sale. We have been cleaning out toys and our garage for the last month and have lots of great stuff, so come on by! Plus, it will be a refreshing break from the weasels and whackadoodles that come out of the woodwork during these sales. Please Wish me luck and more importantly, Forbearance, so I don't deck anybody if they are ridiculous in their offers or try to steal. Grrr! This is why I don't Usually EVER, Ever do yard sales, it's so much easier on my nerves to just donate our castoffs to charity and not deal with these scumbags, but the timing worked out, so I will give it another try.

So how was your week? Big, Medium, or Small? Or maybe SuperSized? What are you up to this weekend? Thank you!