Simple Reminders

I am not going to lie - I had a terrible day.  I got in my car to drive home and made it as far as the highway (probably a mile and a half from the hospital) before I burst into tears.  I cried the entire way home, immediately changed into workout clothes and took a looooooooooooong walk while listening to the Wicked soundtrack.  That helped.

You know what also helped?  Looking at this picture.

The botanical garden has an edible garden in one section that showcases how to grow different produce specifically in the Atlanta climate.  There are signs everywhere telling people not to pick/eat the food and at one point I wondered out loud what happened to the food.  Then I saw this sign.

So - yes.  My day sucked.  I wish I could talk about it.  But I can't.  So for now I am grateful for simple reminders that good things are happening in the world.

I am also grateful for my friends and family - both in real life and in the blog world.  You all are amazing.

Wear a Dress Tuesday and the Day I Anointed My Arm

It's WADT!  Today I wore one of my 'finds' from this weekend's shopping extravaganza.

This dress was originally priced at $60 and I paid $15.  Fantastic.

I'm still going through some of my pictures from the weekend.  I really can't believe that I waited so long to go to the Atlanta Botanical Garden.  I cannot imagine how beautiful it must be during the spring and I cannot wait to check it out in the fall!

A dragonfly!  He/She stayed absolutely still for a good 45 seconds while I took pictures.  So cooperative!

One of the friends I was with explained to me that bugs are drawn to the little knob on the top of these plants.  When they land, the plant itself is really slippery, so they slide down and then the plants eat them!  It's kind of neat and kind of horrifying all at the same time.

I love this picture.  It's simple and fresh.  Straight out of camera.  Beautiful.

***

So today I was called up to my floor to do an anointing with a patient and his fiance.  An anointing is really just a blessing or a healing ritual.  We have oil that we use and then each chaplain can do what they feel comfortable based on their own tradition and the specific situation they are being called to.

Today I spent a lot of time talking to the patient before I actually did anything.  We read a psalm together and then talked about it.  When we finished our conversation, I picked up the bottle with the oil in it and took out the cork out.  I put my thumb over the top, turned the bottle over to dip my thumb in the oil and proceeded to pour oil all the way down my arm.

Apparently my thumb is smaller than the top of the bottle.

I am an awesome chaplain, I really am.

Weekend Recap: Independence Edition

What.A.Fun.Weekend.  Where to start?

On Friday night, Bruce and I went over to our friends' house for dessert and scrabble (this is where the 'Fury' photo came from).  I don't think we have seen them since graduation and we seriously needed some time to catch up!  They are expecting their first baby at the end of August (!!) and I couldn't be more happy for them - they are going to be incredible parents.

Saturday morning we woke up and did some much needed cleaning around the apartment.  I feel like we need to vacuum twice a week in order to keep up with the dirt, dust, cat fur and hair that collects around here!  I wouldn't mind, but Lilly absolutely hates the vacuum and every time we turn it on she is traumatized for a good hour and a half and we have to bribe her with treats to come out from under the couch.

Anyway, around 10:30 Kari got here!  Kari had called me last week and said she had a three day weekend from the hospital (she's a 4th year medical student at Wake Forest in North Carolina) and wanted to get out of town.  We didn't have any plans so I told her to come down and we'd celebrate the U.S.A. right.

I'm sure you're thinking to yourself, "How do you celebrate the U.S.A. right?"  Well, I'm glad you asked.  We did three things.

1. Economic stimulation.  We shopped.  A lot.  In fact ... 

... this was the damage.  Impressive, no?  I'm happy to say that I didn't buy anything at full price and spent no more than $12 on anything!

This might have been my favorite purchase ... 

... 50% off Vera Bradley aprons!

We cooked dinner and I ruined my tablespoon measuring device.  Don't feel too sorry for me.  I stuck a plastic measuring spoon into a skillet filled with hot bacon grease and didn't think that this might happen ... 

Safely filed under "Well, it was my own dumb fault".

Anyway, this will lead to more economic stimulation.  Because I now need a new tablespoon measuring spoon.  And will most likely find some other sort of kitchen gadget that I never knew I needed when I set out to purchase a replacement.

"Sarah Weaver - Pulling this country out of its recession, one ruined-by-hot-bacon-grease-tablespoon at a time."

Moving right along ... 

2. Tailgating, baseball and fireworks.  In that order.

We all piled into Bruce's truck and set up outside of the ballpark.  Bruce and Kari tossed a football around ... 

... and I put my feet up and drank a Diet Coke.

I love America.

The game was fun (even if the results were less than desirable).  Our seats were awesome!

We root-root-rooted for the home team and when they didn't win it was a shame.

Oh - side note.  Before the game started a slew of military personnel brought this baseball field - sized (literally) flag out for the national anthem ... 

I cried.  Is it normal to cry over a large flag?  Does patriotism increase with age?  I don't think I've ever cried over the singing of The Star Spangled Banner before.

After the game we moved up into the upper deck behind home plate so we could get a better view of the fireworks.

Look at that beautiful skyline.  I love my city.

Bruce and me waiting for the fireworks to start!  I was getting impatient.

Ka-booooooooooom!

At one point we could see three fireworks shows going on.  The show on the field, the ones from Centennial Olympic Park and the ones at Stone Mountain.  How cool!

3. Tourist attractions.  The kind that involve backpacks and cameras.

I had today off from the hospital (I needed the three day weekend!) so Kari and I made plans with some friends of ours for lunch.  When we were looking at the map to figure out how to get to the restaurant, we realized that the Atlanta Botanical Garden was right down the street and convinced ourselves that we HAD to go!

The garden is BEAUTIFUL!  Words really don't describe it.

They had different exhibits with all different kinds of climates and agriculture.

I think I'll upload my photos to flickr so if you want to click over and see them all you can.

I took this picture of my reflection in a lilly pond.  I want to go back!

I am absolutely exhausted (and kind of broke!) but the weekend was totally worth it!

Travel safe to everyone still making their way home!