The ABC's of Trip Planning, Pt 1- K is for Keeping Things Kooky- Drinks V-Z; pg. 197 + New Link

[MAGICFOR2]

Congratulations!!!! Your hard work paid off in a big way! It seems like just yesterday we were sending you off to school and telling you to play nice with others Enjoy your celebrations, and we'll still be here when you get back.

 

[Steppesister]

Looky here....

l

 

[Flossbolna]

Congratulations!

For me these pins are a new concept, never heard about them until this thread. So the first thing that came to mind when I saw this was: Liesa got a medal like for a marathon!

 

[pkondz]

 

[DonnaBeeGood]

.

 

[KathyM2]

Wow congrats!! That's so awesome!!!

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

Congrats! I hope you had a lovely grad/pinning!

 

[rndmr2]

Congratulations! I never got a pin myself, our school was not the most organized for things like that and they never told us when the day was to order them, then that day I had a crazy day and couldn't get to the guy and they wouldn't let me order it after that. There were a few of us. We didn't have a pinning ceremony anyway. We just had a regular Graduation with black Caps and Gowns at the College (Penn State) that was affiliated with the nursing school (was through a Hospital).

 

[Steppesister]

Jiko, yum. I have wanted to eat here for ages but my family is not made of fine diners and they ran the opposite direction when they saw the prices.

It is pricey for sure. I don't think I'd have done it this trip if it hadn't come as part of the tour. We've got plenty of other nice places to enjoy on the list for sure.

Um...onion soup without cheese and crouton?? What would be the point?? I guess if you're a gluten free-lactose free type...but then...well....onion soup?? Just curious...

AGREED!! Just.... broth? For $6? Uh, no thanks.

That's a great way to go!

Fo sho!!

I've been to Jiko three times, and after we had been there that many times, Fran finally told me that she didn't like it at all.

What?! Why'd she wait so long? LOL!

What is the point then? The soup is merely a delivery vehicle for cheese and crouton!

Our family has long used the adage, "Bread is merely the vehicle on which jam and butter, and pretty much everything else is carried." Period.

It's a Brand name, they are located in South Carolina and evidently farm organically and have been in business for sometime. It's family owned and many high end restaurants use their products. In addition to grits they make cornmeal and other types of grain products.

Good to know. They still have a hilarious name that will give me endless fodder for chuckling.

So I had to google this one too and here's what Wikipedia gave me. "Lardo is a type of salumi made by curing strips of fatback with rosemary and other herbs and spices."

So, it IS fat.... AAAaaand fattening. I think I"m gonna start calling my dog this- he's gotten pretty ummm, hefty.

I'll probably show up fed, but will be up for beverages.

We can all play it by ear. Might be time for 2nd dinner as the evening wears on.

I could be very happy with the queso and some chips, and of course a margarita!

I could live on what you just suggested.

I'm glad you are having one nice meal before you leave. This is another one that Fran was not fond of, so I doubt we will be going back.

Ahhhh, Fran.

You have some very nice plans for your food dreams!

Yes, but wait til you see my next list(s).

 

[Steppesister]

Wow, now that you mention it, I will add this to my list of midnight ponderings as well!

It is a worthy pursuit. Along with wondering about why I can't get lettuce to grow, but have no problem with 50 varieties of weeds.

Oh, this trip is going to be fantabulous. Why can't we all have 48 hours per day while on holiday?

I know! We need WAY more time there to really let it soak in.

Haven't been there. Would like to give this one a try... by myself (see why, later on...)

My daughter dated a guy once who wouldn't eat much of anything. Besides being an hineywad, we told her that it would be VERY hard to live with someone who didn't even come close to sharing her tastes. Seriously, he would eat like 3 things. I think Jiko would be a very lovely place to do a solo meal at- especially if you sat at the bar.

Wow, that sounds good!

I'd sound better if I knew how it translated. For all I know it means "tastes like crap" in Afrikaans.

That sounds like good thinking.... we'll see though. All that food over several days adds up, even if you skip breakfast.

I know! After a while, I seriously just crave simple fare and get bloated and uncomfortable with so much eating out and rich food.

I wonder if this will start to ease off. It's been around for a little while now.

I'm hoping the same for Jock Lindsays and Trader Sam's.

There probably just itching to do something on their own.

I know a softball when tossed one. But I think I'll leave it alone.... (however tempting it is)

Okay, even before I read the next line, I immediately thought "Foraged? Do the 7 dwarves do that when they're not mining??"

Great minds.

I've never heard of nasturtium. oily or dry.

But you've seen them:

That reminds me of when we lived in Churchill, MB (polar bear capitol of the world, don'tcha know.)
I think maybe I was going to make a pie or something, don't remember, but I needed some lard. I had never purchased lard before so didn't know where to find it in the store. Now the Northern Store in Churchill is a combination grocery store, clothing store, hardware store. I thought lard would be kept near the butter in the dairy section. Couldn't find it. Finally I asked someone who worked there. "Do you have any lard?" He looked at me like I was nuts. "Do we have any lard? Follow me." He brought me to another area.... There were buckets of lard. Big buckets. An entire shelf filled with varying sizes of lard. Maybe when you were a kid you heard how Eskimos eat whale blubber? Well, the Inuit (the proper name for Eskimo) do eat blubber. They also eat a lot of things raw, too. And they buy tons of lard and eat that too. Interesting diet.

No, I didn't know.

Sounds like vodka in Crapistan. Literally and entire aisle, both sides, full length full of vodka.

I have heard of the Inuit and their diet. Did they not get their own Province not too long ago? Nunavut? What do you hear about how that's working out?

You're taking the fun out of it.

Yes, I'd forgotten how much fun biting is. Hadn't done that since I was 2.

Uh, huh. Tell that to the rest of my family. We went to Boma. I tried a bunch of things. Some I liked, some I didn't.
What did the other three have? Nothing but mac 'n' cheese.

Lame.

Microwaved bacon or warmed up in the mike. Same with the chili I'm guessing.

Oddly, we just microwaved a pound of bacon this morning for my famous baked beans.

Well, today's my third day off in a row. And I only worked all three of them!
(Yes. At work right now.)

And I'll bet you worked the next 3 too. (Since I'm responding about a week later. )

I'd love to go to WDW and not ride a single thing.
I think I could do that in Epcot (but would like to try the new Soarin' when it comes out.) And maybe, possibly AK (but... but... EE!) But I doubt I could do that in DHS (RNRC & TOT) and definitely couldn't in MK (HM, BTMRR, PP)
But after those few rides? Yeah, I would love to just sashay about and take it all in.

Yeah, I'd pick almost exactly those minus RnRC. I'd add BTMRR. And I'd trade all the others, given the choice, for watching a few music groups, sitting and listening to the BGM, or MSEP.

 

[Steppesister]

I have had lardo. It is very tasty. It is like only the fatty part of a prosciutto without the meaty part. It is cut very thinly and has an excellent taste! But it is very fatty obviously.

I do like prosciutto, especially with melon. And yes, lardy/fatty/lardo...

ETA: I reread Liesa's post and it says "lardo toast" and it is mentioned besides the charcuterie. I could imagine that they take some lardo and put it in a pan so that all the fat melty out of the lardo and then they fry some bread in the liquid lardo fat.

This makes sense. I'll ask the server to explain it.

We have a much plainer German version of the same thing and my mother would make croutons that way. The crispy remains of the rest lardo are pretty delicious, too!

Of course they are. Anything fatty and fried is delicious.

I was thinking the SAME thing....

I'm glad someone gets my twisted humor.

Nasturium.....

Just sounds UM nasty....

They are actually quite spicy. You can eat both leaves and flowers and I've put them in salads a few times.

Carded? You sure you don't mean measured? As in.....you must be THIS tall to get in.............

Aren't you funny. But I was definitely NOT in WDW and there was no Space Mountain. Sadly.

I think I said runner for drinks. I would probably be too busy getting food to have any time to enjoy the get-together myself........ And of COURSE there will be a dip into The Ditch. One last chance to snag another Horchata Margarita!!!

Well, then you'll miss out on the chance at those dollar bills.

 

[Steppesister]

The end of a very long and difficult journey and the beginning of a wonderful and rewarding one.

Yes, I"m sure it will be.

Looking forward to that. I really am. I feel like I've been with you on this journey and would like to see its culmination.

Pictures coming soon... The end will be when I actually PASS my Boards AND find a job. Both sooner than later I hope.

Good luck on the next job interview - sometimes you just click better with the interviewers, and someone perceptive is going to match you up with a great position.

Thanks!! Wednesday is coming. And I have my eye on others as well.

OK now I know why we haven't seen you around much.

Hopefully, a bit more now, but honestly, I have class all week (a $400 review class for the Boards that was included in our tuition), and need to pound the pavement so to speak.

I was hoping to get the next installment of my TR up this week, but you are one of the folks who still needs to get in their answers for the contest. I'll keep it open for another few days and hope you and a few others stop by!

I will try really hard to get there tomorrow!

Well I hope it works out in the way you want. From what I know of hospice it goes really quickly, but I suppose there are all kinds of different cases.

The general rule is that to qualify for hospice there needs to be a prognosis of 6 months or less. But can be renewed if things change.

Good luck with the hospice interview! Did you get any feedback from HR at the hospital about where you strayed in that interview? Sometimes info like that can be helpful in prepping for future opportunities.

Thanks, Lessa! I didn't. I called but they did not return my call. I am going to apply for a PRN position in their ED this week, so we'll see...

 

[Steppesister]

Glad to hear at least it isn't a broken tailbone. I hope they can figure out the actual issue quickly so you can get some relief! Best wishes for getting through all your required sitting in the next few days!

Still hurts like the dickens. And I do too! I will see another practitioner when things settle down a bit.

And, good luck with the job hunt.

I will need it!!

But it could have been a million other things that made them pick someone else. Don't overthink it!

I know. It's just hard to see almost all of my classmates get jobs to quickly and me having to work a lot harder.

Time for a happy dance!!

Yes, yes it is!

(okay I didn't. but maybe you smiled when you read that? Maybe a little? No?.... Darn. Well I tried, feeble though it was.)

I did chuckle. And yes, I can be a pain in the keister.

"butt-shuffle". I'm going to have to use that.

So, have you?

Ever wonder if someone pulls up beside you at a light and then tries to find what station you're listening to?

I'm easy to peg sometimes. In the AM commutes I often listen to classical and do a fair amount of air conducting.

I foresee many standing ovations in your future.

Yes, on my part.

Change of heart? Of opinion? Good luck either way, no matter what.

Perhaps. I have several other irons in the fire, so we'll see...

That's an amazing gift. I have a friend who's going through a rough patch right now with a family member. And I'm ashamed to say that I just don't know what to say or do. I try to mostly listen, because I think that's what they need, but... it's not a gift that I have, I don't think. I envy you.

Sometimes it's best just to listen. Don't underestimate the power of presence.

"Hey. Howzit going? Cool. So... uh... we made it. Woot." <show thumbsup><leave>

I think I did a LITTLE better than that.

It seems like just yesterday we were sending you off to school and telling you to play nice with others Enjoy your celebrations, and we'll still be here when you get back.

I did go to school; not sure if I always played nicely.

For me these pins are a new concept, never heard about them until this thread. So the first thing that came to mind when I saw this was: Liesa got a medal like for a marathon!

That's a good analogy! There were many times I thought it'd NEVER end.

Something so tiny that represents something so huge! But that's why you wear it close to your heart, also something small that in reality is so huge. Congratulations!!!

Such a good way of putting it, Donna!! I wear both of my pens with pride and am proud of my hard work to have the privilege of wearing them.

Congratulations! I never got a pin myself, our school was not the most organized for things like that and they never told us when the day was to order them, then that day I had a crazy day and couldn't get to the guy and they wouldn't let me order it after that. There were a few of us. We didn't have a pinning ceremony anyway. We just had a regular Graduation with black Caps and Gowns at the College (Penn State) that was affiliated with the nursing school (was through a Hospital).

 

[Steppesister]

"Pinning is the culmination and celebration of the hard work of these 40 people. But we all know that this is only the beginning of our hard work. Please welcome (Keynote Speaker) to encourage and exhort us as we launch into our adventures as Registered Nurses." Those were the first few sentences of my speech to welcome the Keynote Speaker, and all I could focus on since I finished on Wednesday. Well, that and 400 other minor details that I'd worked on for the Ceremony.

5:45 came... and went. No Keynote Speaker. 5:50. Ummmm... hang on. Got a text here....

OH crap!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! She's stuck in traffic and "will be a few minutes late.". Yeah, that's awesome. I have 550 people who have dinner reservations in town and wanted to blow out of there as soon as possible. 6:00: nope. At 6:05, we told the graduates to line up, and we'll go with Plan B, which was now being formulated in solitary panic.

At exactly 6:15, we marched in to the Fanfare from Soarin'. That's what happens when a Disney Fanatic volunteers to plan the event. Sorry, if you wanted something else, you should have offered your own services. You did not. Please be quiet or go home. (Sorry for that mini-rant.)

We are nurses. We are trained to re-assess and re-evaluate situations quickly, and adapt to changing circumstances. We can think on our feet and that's a good thing. There was still no speaker. So we had the graduates get pinned first. Just as that finished, I was at the podium thanking the Instructors and introducing the Medical Teams International Rep who received the gift on the Instructors' behalf, when I saw the Keynote Speaker getting wireless miked up in the foyer.

Huzzah!!! I gave my little intro spiel and up she came. It was beautiful and seamlessly shuffled; my team and I had successfully saved our very first patient- the Pinning Ceremony!!!!

We had many compliments on how well it turned out and off we all went our separate ways. I will likely never see 75% of those people again, but I am confident of their skills to safely and compassionately care for any of you, the trusting public. Remember, we are all human too- treat your nurses well. They know more and care more deeply than you think.

To all of you who have watched me grow and learn over the last 2 years of school; THANK YOU!!!! Your words of encouragement and congratulations for each and every exam, presentation, Lab evaluation, whatever, has meant so, so much to me. Thank you for being here for the long haul, that I at times thought would never end. It's not quite over yet, as I still have to pass a 4 hour exam, get licensed, and find a job. And then the hard part... learning to be safe, efficient and productive in that job. It'll be a full meal deal clear until Disney on October 9th.

Here are a few photos of the ceremony, with more to follow at some point that I'll get from the photographer.

During Dress Rehearsal:

Afterwards with the Besties:

The daughter whose footsteps I followed in. (LOL, she got her LPN before me.)

At our BBQ the next day- Just our Study Group.

Practicing for Disney Drinks:

Red was raspberry Jello, raspberry and cherry vodka, and water. Yellow was kid friendly lemon.

They were VERY strong.

 

[franandaj]

I wanna know what's in the red ones....I saw the uri....Yellow ones were for the kids....

 

[pkondz]

Seriously, he would eat like 3 things.

Which isn't bad if those three things are bread, peanut butter and jam.

I'd sound better if I knew how it translated. For all I know it means "tastes like crap" in Afrikaans.

I Googled! It came out as "Dung of elephant". I may have done that wrong.

But you've seen them:

And Googled them too.
Never knew that's what they were called. Do they have another name?

No, I didn't know.

Now you do.

Sounds like vodka in Crapistan. Literally and entire aisle, both sides, full length full of vodka.

Holy crap!
I wonder whats worse for you?
Then again, the inuit have pretty much evolved to eat blubber, I don't know if anyone can evolve to subsist on vodka.

I have heard of the Inuit and their diet. Did they not get their own Province not too long ago? Nunavut? What do you hear about how that's working out?

Not a Province per se.
There used to be two territories. Yukon and Northwest Territory. They split off a chunk of the latter and named it Nunavut. Going well as far as I know.

Yes, I'd forgotten how much fun biting is. Hadn't done that since I was 2.

My condolences to your DH.

Lame.

yup.

Oddly, we just microwaved a pound of bacon this morning for my famous baked beans.

Miked bacon is fine... but not when it' miked and still floppy and barely cooked.
I think they miked everything. I didn't hear beef sizzling on the grill either.

And I'll bet you worked the next 3 too. (Since I'm responding about a week later. )

yup.
But I'm off now!
(til the 19th!)

Yeah, I'd pick almost exactly those minus RnRC. I'd add BTMRR.

I did have BTMRR in the list.
No way I'm not going on that.

And I'd trade all the others, given the choice, for watching a few music groups, sitting and listening to the BGM, or MSEP.

Interesting. I'm not big into parades and shows.... but just walking around? Popping into shops that look interesting, grabbing a treat once in a while, soaking it all in?

aaaaahhhhhhh.........

The end will be when I actually PASS my Boards AND find a job. Both sooner than later I hope.

Fingers crossed for the latter, I have no doubts about the former.

So, have you?

Not yet!

I'm easy to peg sometimes. In the AM commutes I often listen to classical and do a fair amount of air conducting.

Interesting.
I was driving Kay to school the other day and she asked if she could listen to the radio. I always listen to classic rock and she does too sometimes (when she's with me.) I was expecting some new age pop but... nope.
Tuned in classical.

Yes, on my part.

Sometimes it's best just to listen. Don't underestimate the power of presence.

I know. Still. I'm a guy. I want to fix it.
And yeah, I know I can't.

I think I did a LITTLE better than that.

Threw in a burp, did you? Cool.

 

[pkondz]

Just a few of the shots from the festivities this weekend.

Thanks for sharing!

I have some stories to tell... of course.

Of course!

But those will have to wait.

Of course....

I'm exhausted and need to get to bed so I can get up for Sunday morning. Please come back to THIS post tomorrow evening for some additions.

This post? You mean you're going to edit it and add, I presume?

So pretty.

I wanna know what's in the red ones....I saw the uri....Yellow ones were for the kids....

What Alison said!

 

[franandaj]

And then I went back and looked at the pictures again, who's home were you at? Was Gaston their decorator?

 

[Steppesister]

I wanna know what's in the red ones....I saw the uri....Yellow ones were for the kids....

Red was raspberry jello, raspberry and strawberry vodkas, and water. They were rather... potent.

 

[Steppesister]

Which isn't bad if those three things are bread, peanut butter and jam.

A good PB&J is great. About once a month.

I Googled! It came out as "Dung of elephant". I may have done that wrong.

That's what I was afraid of!

Do they have another name?

Not that I know of?

I wonder whats worse for you?
Then again, the inuit have pretty much evolved to eat blubber, I don't know if anyone can evolve to subsist on vodka.

Both will lead to strokes or heart attacks, but only one gives you brain damage along the way. (hint: it's not the blubber.)

My condolences to your DH.

I don't even know what to say to that...

Miked bacon is fine... but not when it' miked and still floppy and barely cooked.
I think they miked everything. I didn't hear beef sizzling on the grill either.

BLECH!! Not okay! (But I don't like it super crispy either.) I think in the case of this restaurant, they chose quantity over ANY semblance of quality!

yup.
But I'm off now!
(til the 19th!)

YAY! A trip to Montreal!

I did have BTMRR in the list.
No way I'm not going on that.

Did I miss it? I didn't think you were a fool.

Interesting. I'm not big into parades and shows.... but just walking around? Popping into shops that look interesting, grabbing a treat once in a while, soaking it all in?

aaaaahhhhhhh.........

No, only 1 parade. The only one worth watching.

aaaaahhhh is a very good way to describe that feeling.

Fingers crossed for the latter, I have no doubts about the former.

Your confidence is overwhelming. Putting my irons in the fire and we'll see what comes.

Tuned in classical.

But did she air conduct? Actually, this surprised me. Good girl! She's classy!

Threw in a burp, did you? Cool.

I thought it was better than tripping as I walked up the steps in my heels.