My Beautiful Daughter

What a mess!

Too many toys, one little boy!

Where's the Beef?

Bottle of Wine, Fruit of the Vine....

Troppo's is an upscale eatery/watering hole in downtown Lansing. Located at the corner of Michigan and South Washington Avenues, you can easily see the state capitol building and other downdown landmarks from the restaurant. At night, the lights are intriguing and beautiful. Troppo's is a great place to meet after work to "debrief." I would describe the food eclectic and the service as impeccable. One night, the server told me they were out of the usual wine I order. She offered that I might like the Grand Traverse Late Harvest Reisling. It was wonderful and has become my favorite. Chateau Grand Traverse Winery (Traverse City, Michigan) produces both the Late Harvest and a semi-dry reisling. The Late Harvest Reisling is somewhat sweeter and has a someone fruiter taste. I learned recently that Chateau Grand Traverse has won several award over the past four years for both of these wines. For those who like a cherry wine, they produce a cherry reisling that is quite good.

Tools for Tots

My three-year old grandson loves tools--real tools. He would prefer a screwdriver to a dump trunk and a crescent wrench to a ball & bat. His prize Christmas gifts (in addition to his "puter" and monster trucks were his new tools--his metric wrench set, his screwdriver set, his rope and his tape measure!

The Joy of Cooking

I have been "studying" the Joy of Cooking in preparation for our Christmas dinner. This year will be my first attempt to roast a standing rib roast. We have 11 # of roast in the frig just waiting!

Twas the Night Before Christmas

Friday, December 22nd was the 6th annual Christmas Reading at the St. Lawrence Campus Outpatient Surgery Department. Dr. Edward Lanigan, surrounded by staff of the Sparrow, MSU Department of Surgery and patients & their families participated. Dr. Lanigan read the story, "The Soldier's Night before Christmas." Although the story didn't specifically mention Iraq, the pictures led one to believe that was the case. The story was very touching and I thought about Beth's friend, Joe, in Iraq. My feelings about America in Iraq will require another blog! After the reading, the entire group sang "Let There be Peace." It was a very moving ceremony.

The Last View of the SPB from the Parking Deck Interior

Every day as the construction progresses, you can see less and less of the SPB from the parking deck.

The Top of the Tower

After months of construction, the top of the west tower is now being put into place. Soon the crane, just barely visible now through the steel rafters, will be gone.

To shine or not to shine

When I left Sparrow yesterday, the weather was interesting. To the west, the sun was brightly, blindly shining. To the east, ominous clouds created a dark, threatening sky. The SPB seemed to be the point between the two very different skies.

Christmas with the YaYa's

Every job, no matter what the required skill set or responisibilities, has the potential to create stress from time to time. My ability to respond to that stress in my job is dependent upon many things like adequate sleep, preparation for the task at hand and who I am working with on the project. I also need to have peers I can "unload" on when things feel like they are getting out of hand--a sort of reality check. Over the past year, several women, all with "big" jobs, have formed an incredible friendship. We call ourselves YaYa's. We drink, we cook, we eat out, we laugh, we catch each other's back at work every day, and support each other both emotionally and professionally. Perhaps this is the women's version of the "good old boys" network! We can sense when each other are in need of a YaYa intervention. When an intervention is required, a page will be made and as many as possible will respond. If it is not a critical moment, an email might be sent noting that the patio at Mitchell's at 6pm is available. Last night, we got together to celebrate Christmas. Most of the YaYa's are excellent cooks. Our celebration included a succulent standing rib roast, garlic-mashed redskins, corn casserole, seven layer salad, rolls & butter. Dessert, a pistachio pudding layer on a cookie crust with whipped topping, was a light and very tasty end to a perfect meal. Before we dined, we reminisced about the huge successes we've had this year as friends and in our jobs. We drank champagne, we drank wine, and we tremendously enjoyed each other's company.

If it's December, it must be the English Inn

Once I month, for years, several of "the girls" from my grad school class have had dinner together. It's become a tradition to have our December meal at the English Inn in Eaton Rapids. Although this summer picture of the Inn shows it beauty, it pales in comparison to the twinkly lights, evergreen wreaths and red bows it wears for the Christmas season. Tonight's meal was top-notch as usual. We had the New York strip steak, prepared perfectly, and served with garlic mashed potatoes and a vegetable medley of green beans and carrots. The first course was the English Inn house salad, a mix of greens with walnuts and a light creamy dressing. Even though I had red meat, I enjoyed my favorite wine, a Grand Traverse semi-sweet reisling. For dessert, we splurged for the creme brulee and fresh brewed coffee. It is probably important to note at this point that the service was impeccable. Our server was immediately available when needed but not overbearing. She was very pleasant and upbeat and tended to our every need. It was another perfect evening!

Wynken Blynken & Nod

• Wynken, Blynken, and Nod ( A Dutch Lullaby) Wynken, Blynken, and Nod, one night sailed off in a wooden shoe; Sailed off on a river of crystal light into a sea of dew. "Where are you going and what do you wish?" the old moon asked the three. "We've come to fish for the herring fish that live in this beautiful sea. Nets of silver and gold have we," said Wynken, Blynken, and Nod.
  The old moon laughed and sang a song as they rocked in the wooden shoe. And the wind that sped them all night long ruffled the waves of dew. Now the little stars are the herring fish that live in that beautiful sea; "Cast your nets wherever you wish never afraid are we!" So cried the stars to the fishermen three - Wynken, and Blynken, and Nod.
  So all night long their nets they threw to the stars in the twinkling foam. 'Til down from the skies came the wooden shoe bringing the fisherman home. ' Twas all so pretty a sail it seemed as if it could not be. Some folks say 'twas a dream they dreamed of sailing that misty sea. But I shall name you the fisherman three - Wynken, Blynken, and Nod.
  Now Wynken and Blynken are two little eyes and Nod is a little head. And the wooden shoe that sailed the skies is a wee one's trundle bed. So close your eyes while mother sings of the wonderful sights that be. And you shall see those beautiful things as you sail on the misty sea, Where the old shoe rocked the fishermen three - Wynken, Blynken and Nod. (Eugene Field, 1850-1895). Lansing, Michigan Board of Water & Light's Eckert power plant has three smokestacks that are visible for 15 miles on a clear day. These smokestacks are referred to locally as Wynken, Blynken and Nod after the Eugene Field poem of the same name. My mom, dad and grandma & grandpa Wood used to read this poem to me and my sibs when we were kids.

Silky Edge

Kyle's Quilt

While sitting in a bar late one night in Ireland almost two years ago, my nephew Kyle told me he would really like a homemade quilt. I quickly answered that I would love to make him one for Christmas. Well, the first Christmas passed and I had no quilt made. I felt really guilty and started one for him right after Christmas. He has never asked me about it or begged me for it or felt me feel badly in any way that I missed giving it to him that Christmas after our vacation. I have worked on and off on it all year, but since September, made a concerted effort to finish it. Today, the last of the sewing was completed. I now only have to clip the edges and wash it. The type of quilt I made uses a frayed-edge technique where a 1/2 inch seam allowance is clipped along every seam line. Once the quilt is then washed, the rough edges fray creating a very beautiful, country look to the quilt. It will be done for Christmas 2006!

Ruth Fast's Rum Balls

When I began working in the PACU (the first time), Ruth Fast was an LPN who had years of experience in the PACU. As the only LPN working with an otherwise all RN staff, she held her own in many ways. She took no crap from anyone, knew everything about everything and felt very comfortable putting physicians in their place. This rough exterior masked a heart of gold. The year my daughter was born prematurely, Ruth wanted to help and brought us the biggest tray of Christmas cookies I have ever seen. Of all the beautifully decorated and tasty cookies I have had over the years, her tray of cookies stands out by far for both the look and the taste. My very favorites then and now are rum balls. The recipe goes like this: 3 cups of crushed vanilla wafers, 1 cup finely chopped pecans, 1/4 cup Hershey cocoa, 2 cups powdered sugar, 1/2 cup rum, 1/4 cup light corn syrup. Crush the vanilla wafers and mix with the pecans, powdered sugar and cocoa. Stir to mix thoroughly. Add the rum and corn syrup and stir until all dry ingredients are incorporated. Do not make more than two batches together as the ingredients become to hard to manage (heavy to turn with a spoon and too thick for most mixers). Roll the "batter" into 1-inch diameter balls, roll in granulated sugar and age. These cookies taste better after 3-5 days of "setting" in an airtight container. Ruth Fast retired more than 15 years ago and recently passed away. There is not a Christmas that goes by that I do not think of her, her kindness and her rum balls! My grandson thinks they are pretty darn good, too!

Lean Six Sigma

The Michigan State University Management Training Center is located in Troy, Michigan. This training center is a function of the Eli Broad Graduate School of Business and Management at MSU. This week, I have attend Lean Six Sigma training. Six Sigma and Lean Six Sigma focus on process improvement. Since meeting Sheri Maxim and being in awe at her approach to narrowing the focus on improving functions in some of my areas of responsibility, I felt a real need to better understand Six Sigma and to learn some of the tools that make it successful. I enrolled for this program about six months ago, thinking anything I could learn would be of general help for me. As the date of the project approached, I was sure the program would help in narrowing our focus for OR throughput improvement. During yesterday's class, I learned at least three specific techniques to use in the CSS throughput improvement project. I'm off to learn more today!

ebay

This week, my three-year old grandson won his first ebay auction. He bid on Nitroade, one of the Pixar Cars. He won the auction at $1.70. At three, he can use the laptop mouse, use the up and down keys to scroll through the options, and double click to enlarge pictures. The downside--he has no comprehension of time. As soon as he closed out of the computer, he wanted to go to the mailbox to get his car. It was a long two days waiting for the mailman!

What If?

What if you were a well-respected professional who didn't buy a license for your dog. What if, one evening, the police came to your door with a warrant for your arrest for not having your dog(s) licensed? What if they hauled you off to jail in a police car and put you in the slammer?

The New Sparrow

The "new" Sparrow. Is it the new steel and brick structures going up? Is it the new focus on customer service? Is it the focus on employee satisfaction? How about physician satisfaction? With so many "new" things going on, will we recognize any of the pieces of the past Sparrow that contributed so greatly to its success? The "new" Sparrow is deep into the transition from a community hospital to a regional referral center (trauma, neonatal care, intensive care-cardiac, neuro, renal, cancer, orthopaedics).

The Biggest Crane

Granger Construction brought in a huge crane (sitting in one of the elevator shafts, I've been told) to help with the work on the West Wing expansion. This is a view from North Pennsylvania Avenue near Shiawassee Street looking south. Eastern High School is in the foreground. Special training is required to operate this crane. It is a long way up. The man who operates the crane goes up in the morning with his lunch, snacks, beverages, etc. He is up there all day (about 10 hours).

Canada Geese

I only captured these few geese, but whew, there were really many of them! The sky over the parking lot at Meijer was dark and noisy with the number of these geese flying overhead.

West Side of the Corn Field

The west side of the corn field is under water most of tthe year. It's particularly pretty now, frozen and snow-covered.

Out Back

The corn's been cut and is now covered by snow. It still offers food to the deer and geese which are barely visible at the tree line.

Quilters & Cats

Br-r-r-r

Saturday morning, mid-Michigan, it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Hershey Kiss

Coffee, Java, Joe

I love coffee. I like to smell it brewing when I wake up in the morning. I like to regroup mid morning with a cup, and I like to treat myself to cappuccino in the late afternoon if I am having a tough day. I cycle through caffeine addiction where I am drinking way to much caffeine and try to cut back by giving it up cold turkey. After a couple of days of massive headaches and many naps, my body is free from the caffeine. I then start in again, always promising that I will limit myself to just one cup a day. My favorite coffee is Starbucks. I order it online and never find it bitter. My usual home brew coffee is Maxwell House Colombian Roast or French Roast --it is the best you can buy "anywhere" at very reasonable prices. For coffee on the run, I prefer Starbucks. However, there is not a Starbucks cafe in my town nor on my route to work or errands. I settle for Beaners. Beaners is good but occasionally a little bitter. The convenience makes up for the bitterness. I have friends who drink Gevalia, but I am not impressed. I like different coffees at different times of the day. In the early morning, I want caffeine, strong, hot, and lots of it....with a little milk and sugar. By 9am, skinny lattes are great. In the afternoon, I like cappuccino--double mocha, skim milk, add a long shot and whip--mmm good.

Scrapbooking 101

I like to cut. I am happiest when I am cutting fabric for quilts, paper for cards or embellishments for scrapbooking. Scrapbooking is a recent hobby and one I do enjoy. There are so many things to buy to re-invent creativity, but the pages I like the best are the ones I've created from "scratch." I've been scrapbooking for nearly a year. I have not only amassed a mountain of the required supplies but a ton of books and pages. I joined friends for a scrapbooking weekend in October. As I lugged all my tools and pages back upstairs to their home, I decided to explore the opportunities available for electronic scrapbooking. I could imagine a scrapbooking weekend where everything I needed would fit nicely into my laptop bag with maybe a few additional CD's to work from. WOW!

Pattengill Middle School

For the 30+ years I have worked at Sparrow Hospital, I have watched the Pattengill Middle School students waiting for the doors to open. I've been frustrated by the traffic, appalled by how some children are dressed for school, irritated by poor manners, but always thankful that I am a nurse and not a teacher! Pattengill Middle School, at 1017 Jerome Street in Lansing, Michigan will begin classes in thier new facility when school starts in the Fall of 2007. Pattengill currently has an enrollment of 669 students --a whole lot of puberty under one roof! The construction of the new Pattengill facility at the corner of Marshall Street and Grand River Avenue is part of a $68 million school bond passed by voters in 2003. Pattengill has been a key facility in the education of Lansing children since it was constructed in 1920. Pattengill will be demolished in Spring 2006. According to the wishes of the benefactor, the area will be returned to green space. Lansing School Superintendent, Dr. Sharon Banks, reported during a recent visit, that this green space (with benches and picnic tables) will be available for use by Sparrow patients, staff and visitors.

Bass Pro Shop - Outdoor World (Harrisburg, PA)

What an experience. We visited the Bass Pro Shop - Outdoor World at the Harrisburg (PA) Mall. I expected a boring trip to a sporting goods store. Was I surprised. Significant money was spent in decorating and maintaining the store. This trip was more fun for my grandson than an amusement park! He rode around in a shopping cart shaped like a NASCAR racer. Throughout the store were many "stuffed" animals: deer, elk, bear, raccoons, squirrels, and pheasants. Located in the center of the store was a room-size aquarium with huge game fish such a large- and small-mouth bass, lake trout, perch, bluegill, brown trout, white sucker, walleye and channel catfish, many longer three feet! In another section of the store, 4-wheel ATV's were on display. As long as children were supervised by their parents (or grandparent), they were welcome to sit on the display models for a real thrill. We spent well over an hour in the store, bought things we didn't need and overall had a really great time shopping! This is a mega-toy store for men!

The Home of Hershey - Hershey, Pennsylvania

I'm quit sure when Milton Hershey was experimenting with chocolate, trying to get just the right combination for the now-famous Hershey bars, he never envisioned the advertising mecca that would result. I had a great time with my grandson at the Hersey compound. We road the trolley train around town and stopped to let aboard none other than Santa Claus himself. Old Santa gave each child a special tree ornament and the whole train full of people sang Christmas carols. We saw the street lights, shaped like Hershey kisses (wrapped and unwrapped!), the Hershey boys home & school, and of course, a multitude of "gift shops." The weather was superb for a late November day. The combination of grandson, fresh air, sunshine and chocolate was awesome.

Ornamental Beauty

A beautiful late autumn day, sunshine and the remnants of this ornamental cherry tree---a striking combination!

On Our Way

We piled in the truck on Thanksgiving morning to head from Mason, Michigan to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. We passed this smoke stack near the Michigan-Ohio border that reminded me of a tornado funnel cloud. The temperature was rather mild, about 40 degrees with no precipitation. It was a great way to start the trek and we did enjoy little traffic and clear roads until we hit very dense fog in eastern Ohio.

Green Thumb

2006 is the third year my friend has tended this beautiful geranium. She has it on the porch (facing north) all summer. In the fall, it takes up it's new position in the corner of the kitchen, facing south, in the full sun (well, that is, what sun Michigan gets in the fall and winter).

Wikipedia notes that Geranium can be:
1. The genus Geranium of flowering plants, usually called the cranesbills or (somewhat redundantly) "hardy geraniums".
2. Members of the related genus Pelargonium, which are commonly called geraniums by gardeners and in the horticultural trade.
This confusing situation arises because Pelargoniums were formerly classified in genus Geranium. The two genera are closely related, and both belong to the family Geraniaceae.
"Florists' geraniums are hybrid varieties of the S African genus Pelargonium."

Trust

Wikipedia defines trust in a number of ways. It may refer to property law, finance, computer science or music. Trust is the name of a 1990 movie and fictional TV organizations. Trust is the basis of interpersonal relationships. There have been a lot of changes at my place employment recently that have led me to question whether I "trust" what is going on. When a long-time, hardworking Associate was recently given notice that her job would change because her skills no longer matched what was needed, I did not trust that the system was treating her well for the 30-plus years of service to the organization. I was angry and thought if it could be her, it could be me! After much thought and talk and review, I thoroughly understand the "why" it was done. Certainly the organization has dramatically changed in the last 10 years and it is not surprising that a different skill set is needed for many jobs. The irony of my reflections, though, is my realization that I need to be replaced, too. I still have a lot to offer in some capacity, but endless energy, a depth of experience in the area at multiple other organizations, and a need for a much more aggressive personality are needed to make my section of the organization successful in both the present and the future. I "trust" that those in leadership positions will come to the same conclusion.

Phat Cat

Sometimes with all of the kids running loose, Harriett the cat just wants a quiet, relaxing place to hide out. She climbed into the infant swing to watch the kids napping.

West Wing Expansion

As Granger Construction continues work on Sparrow Hospital's west wing expansion project, it is interesting to watch the structure take shape. This is an early morning view from the 6th floor of the parking deck looking eastward. Six new surgery suites will be located in the basement (lower level!) of this building, contiguous to the 14 main OR suites.

We HAVE to stop at Arnie's!

I recently spent a weekend "scrapbooking" with friends. Everyone who attended previous scrapbooking weekends would say, "You've got to stop at Arnie's on the way!" The scrapbooking weekend took place at the Holiday Inn in Grayling, Michigan. Over 100 women of all ages and sizes participated in hauling all of their scrapbooking supplies and equipment to the Holiday Inn to spend the weekend creating pages, sharing fun with friends, making new friends, and drinking. The weekend pilgrimage included a stop at Arnie's in Houghton Lake. Arnie's is huge. One can find a great selection of scrapbooking supplies including specialty papers. There are opportunities for other crafters to "buy, buy, buy," too.

Weed or Wildflower

I grew it in a pot on the deck all summer. The leaves were pretty and healthy-looking. The slightly purple flowers were pretty, blossoming later in early September. Is it a wildflower or a weed?

The First Snowstorm of the Year

It's always exciting to wake up to the first snowstorm of the year. My daughter snapped this shot just as daylight was approaching. The snowflakes were huge and looked soft and clean.

A View from the Top

I've had to park on the top of the parking ramp all week. The early morning view is the reward for the annoyance of parking there! This is the Michigan capital building from a "looking west" view.

Midwest Harvest

Autumn in the midwest United States can be awesome. This photo from my kitchen window shows the colorful foliage of a variety of hardwoods in the distance. In the forefront, the corn crop is drying in anticipation of harvest. Once the corn is harvested, the deer and Canada geese will feed on the left-over remains of the corn crop.

Autumn Colors - Euonymus atropurpureus

This beautiful "burning bush" (Euonymus atropurpureus) was vividly on fire in my friend's yard. The fruit or berries are somewhat orange and upclose, almost look artificial. This bush is so bright and beautiful that it immediately attracts one's eyes to it.

The Star Spangled Banner

The US flag, flapping in the very strong, cold breeze reminded me of phrase in the last stanza of the Star Spangled Banner, "And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave, O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave." (Francis Scott Key, 1814) This picture was taken along I-96 in Eaton County, Michigan on October 14, 2006. It was an awesome feeling to see it, quite unexpectedly, and so vividly against the blue sky in the background.