I registered for school today!

I went down to Tucson College today to finish my registration and make the first payment! I was so excited I managed to get lost on the way, but I made it with 5 minutes to spare before my appointment. I still can't believe how Sylvia flies with her new gears!
I got to fill out even more paper work and answer a bunch of questions about why I want to go there and what my goals are. It really helped clarify things in my head to write it out for them. I want to get an education that will improve my life and the lives of others. This is a quick stop on my end goal of becoming a nurse. It's a bit sad that it took me until age 37 to realize I want to be a nurse. I'm still a writer in my soul, but that will be my secret identity. Now I just have to wait for the acceptance letter to be a real student. Have I mentioned that patience isn't my virtue? I hope it gets here fast!

This will be where she waits while I'm in class! Door to door with covered parking!

On the way home from the school the job I wanted at the hospital called. He re-posted the position and wants me to apply then call him immediately. I need to see if they will work around my school schedule before I decide to try for it again. I really wanted that job; I could have ridden to work every day and worn nice clothes. It was in the hospital which is where I want to be and the other phone operators seem great. There's the chance to get benefits and a cafeteria that has the best fried chicken in the universe! A month ago it was my dream job. Then I wasn't selected and it crushed me. I cried and everything. I had wanted so badly to go back to the hospital. However, not being picked really helped my to figure out what I wanted to do with my life.

I decided I needed more than just a job, so I hatched my crazy plan to finally get back to hands on healthcare and make a difference in peoples lives. I love my plan, but the siren call of that other job is ringing loudly. It whispers that I would still be helping people and if I get chosen this time I would be making a bit more cash to boot. Plus, I'd never have to drive my car again because parking at the hospital is a nightmare and they have bike lockers.

On Monday I go for orientation with a home health care company. If I survive it they will hire me and I will have a job! It's a great part time job and the shifts are short so it won't interfere with school. They like the fact that I'm getting my CNA and seem almost as excited about it as I am. My fingers are crossed that I survive!

I'm considering doing all three if the hospital will work me around school and I survive the home health care orientation on Monday. I could conceivably make it work, but it would be an insane few months and would take a lot of juggling. Once I start actually nursing school, which I plan to do in a year, something will have to give though. 

On the flip side there's a chance that I won't survive Monday and the hospital won't chose me again. That would suck! I hope at least one of the jobs chooses me, but if not I still have hope for my fundraiser!
In the meantime here's a quick photo update on Rory. He is doing great and is in love with Ginger.

Ginger and Rory

He wants to play ball with her.

Zelda Update

It's official, she broke her leg trying to remove the bandage last week. Can't be casted until the original wound heals more so she gets a full leg wrap for at least another week. She is plotting my death now. At least that's what it seems.

On a happier note her under the tail sore is fully closed and scarring nicely and the ones on her hind legs aren't far behind. As long as the bone doesn't get infected she should make a full recovery. Yay! We'll know in a week or so. Here's hoping!

A Painting I Finished Recently

Sorry the pic isn't the best, I took it with my phone. 

This painting was loosely inspired by a trip my husband and I took to Aravaipa Canyon last year. The water was slow moving, but around the rocks it looked like it was speeding. 

There were all these scrub bushes that had delicate purple blue flowers and huge thorns everywhere. I wish they had been seeding so I could try to grow them, but I just had to put them in a painting.  The bush and the water were inspired by our trip. 

The cabin is one that turns up from time to time in my art, I think I want to live there one day. It's just a small two room affair with a huge fire place. I can see it clearly in my mind. It's my mental happy place. 

Can you find the cat in the picture?

Zelda Seems to be Improving

Zelda seems to be getting better, although she looks a fright. I was warned that she might have some hair loss, but she's now mostly bald. It's caused by the allergic reaction she suffered as well as stress. It will grow back with time. The only ulcer that seems to be giving her any trouble now is the one on her front leg. It's also the leg she almost broke getting the bandages off. The one under her tail is almost gone and the ones on her hind feet are now 3/4 the size they were. She's healing faster than expected and I thank you all for the good thoughts you've sent our way.
She still hates the cleaning process and fight it, but I've gotten smart. I wear a leather jacket and the only thing she can claw is my hands. A few of the scratches are scarring on me, but it just adds character. I did try some of her cream on a really bad one and that stuff burns! Now I understand why she wants to kill me. I wish I could use something else. I'm just glad she's healing.
Here's a few happy pics.

Saw these on a walk today. 

These were at the store and I couldn't resist taking a pic. I think they will make a wonderful painting.

We rearranged the house and I now have a dedicated painting area. It's nice not to have to set it up and take it down all the time. 

My Fun New Chore. (Not For The Sqeamish)

I haven't post lately because there's a lot going on. The worst is that Zelda, the cat I inherited form my mom has developed an ulcers one three legs and under her tail due an allergic reaction to a new food. I thought expensive food was supposed to be good for them.
They're not bad yet but there's a chance it can get worse so I get to deal with it. Did I mention she only recently started letting me pet her with out hitting me? That's a thing of the past now. She sees me and vacates the room fast. It's like when she first moved in.
The process itself sucks for both of us. I have to hold her tightly and wash/abraded the area with an antiseptic solution then smear a cream on it. I'm supposed to bandage the wounds, but she almost broke her own leg trying to remove them so I just have to do it more often.
All this one handed because the other is holding her still/having its own skin removed by her. Not fun at all and I get to do it three times a day. Yay!  I wish I could wear welding gloves, but they make me grip her too tight and I don't want to hurt her. Neoprene gloves aren't much protection. At least it will be over in 6-8 weeks when she's fully healed up. I really hope she heals up!
The worst part though is Princess, my personal cat. She yells and screams at me in concert with Zelda and has even slapped at me to make me stop. She's as traumatized as us and won't let me pet her for a while afterward.
It'll probably be another year and a half before she tolerates me again. She is healing though so that's a good thing. The only other option isn't worth thinking about. She's an old cat, but I can vouch for the fight still in her and I'm collecting the scars to prove it.

Lucy's New Swag

The other day on my ride I came across another cyclist who was walking his bike. He was all tricked out in full Lycra and clicky shoes but couldn't ride because he had a flat tire and no way to fix it.
I felt bad for him, but I didn't have any way to fix his tire. Fortunately he had a ride coming to get him at the park so he didn't have far to walk.
That got me thinking I needed a patch kit of my own. When I go for my rides there's no one who can save me if I get into trouble and I do sometimes get into trouble. As I venture further out I really don't want to walk back. I'm up to over 3 miles now and still going strong.
The tires I have on Lucy are reinforced knobbies with a goo strip and extra thick tubes so it's unlikely I'll get a flat unless I roll over something extreme like a huge nail, but it could happen. I was also worried about possible mechanical failure. It sucks when it happens.
Husband reminded me that I already had a small box patch kit, but it wasn't comfortable in my pocket and I always left my mini-pump at home. I also had a mini-tool so all I needed was a bag.
We found the perfect saddle bag and we also got new patches. Mine were very old. Did you know they shouldn't crack when you bend them? I now carry a bike and people patch kit.

Perfect sized bag, patch kit, duck tape on a pencil, mini-tool, mini-pump with Co2 cartridges. Band aids, neosporin, and alcohol wipes in a plastic baggie.

It fits nice and tightly between her rear rack and fenders. It also took care of the rattle I was hearing from there. Bonus!

It's almost invisible so I won't have to worry about leaving it on when I go places.

Lucy also has a new cable on her seat. I was reading up on how to securely lock her because I'm super excited to go to the store in about 2 weeks and use her for shopping. I will definitely be going on Saturday the 4th and I want her secure. I found this great web page and the videos were very informative. Plus Hal made me laugh. I had already been doing everything except the seat lock. I don't have quick release, but that's not enough. Now she has a beautiful homemade seat cable. As an added bonus if my chain breaks I can take pieces off it and fix it with the mini-tool.

I love the tie-dyed duck tape. The hardest part was finding a pattern I liked. 

Add a bottle of water and we're ready for anything now!

Ginger cat approves.

It's a Rainy Off Day

Today is cold and rainy so in a brief spot of clear I snapped a couple of pics in my yard. Once I get fenders I'll have fun in the rain, but I don't like the wet road grime that will spray up. I'm just not sure which ones I want. I do know that I want metal ones, the sun here will destroy plastic ones fairly quickly.

love rose that I got for our first anniversary. It's now 6' tall.

Aloe Vera is blooming.

Doves are courting.

Stormy is taking a nap.