Oh the LOLz

I have a weird thing about teeth. Like a major phobia about loosing them. I have nightmares where all my teeth fall out. And I've told Joe that if he ever gets dentures, I could never kiss him again.  

I know.  

Weird.

But this...

THIS IS HILARIOUS:

(via FailBlog of course)

Edits

I'm coming up on my three year anniversary of starting Full Circle.  I haven't done much around here, so I've been thinking of ways to spruce things up.

I have my first attempt at a header up right now.  I'll probably give it a few more tweaks before I'm completely satisfied.

It'd be a good idea for me to start incorporating my work, wouldn't it?  I should talk about my art more.  I've mentioned a couple things I've done here and there, but not often.

Would you like to read more?  More about my process, more pictures of works in progress, more grief over my messy studio?  

I actually have followers of this blog - which I never thought I would, but I'm so thankful.  I'd like to ask you guys what you like, what you don't like, what you'd want to read more about.  Now that I know I have an audience (albeit a small one), I feel like I should encompass more.  

So, please, leave comments, ask questions!  I'm more than happy to oblige.   

Not-So-Weekly Recipe

The best quiche I've ever had was at Mill Bay Coffee, a local coffee shop in Kodiak, Alaska.

Sorry, Mom.

Ever since that first bite, I've been trying to recreate it on my own.  I've come close.  Close enough.

Vegetable Quiche

ingredients

(Shameful disclaimer:  I cannot make a pie crust.  Can.  Not.  Crust + Me = FAIL.  So I totally cop out and buy ready made.  I usually pick up Pillsbury's rolled out kind where I can use my own pie plate, but this time I went cheap and got the ones in the foil tins.  Not a huge deal, but I'm sure a homemade crust would be one step closer to achieving Mill Bay goodness.  But for that, you're on your own.)

2 deep 9" pie crusts

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese

8 - 12 eggs

Various vegetables - I go with onion, green pepper, squash, and spinach.  Use as much as you can fit into the pans.  Seriously.

1/2 - 1 cup chopped ham (I only add this in one, to placate my non-quiche-fan husband)

1/2 cup milk

Salt and pepper to season

directions

1.  Lightly brown crusts in oven.  350* should do the trick.  Remove before they turn a golden color.  Set aside.

2.  Saute chopped vegetables on stove top.  I think the biggest difference comes in this step.  Technically, the Mill Bay Coffee quiche was ROASTED vegetable.  That's a little much to ask of me.  So I've stuck with the sauteing route, and have been happy.  If you're using spinach, only add it in at the last minute, just to soften the leaves.  Set aside.

3.  In a large bowl, scramble eggs.  Mix in cheeses.  Add in vegetables.  And any meat.  Salt and pepper to your heart's content.  

4.  Pour in enough milk to thin out mixture.

5.  Mix well.

6.  Separate mixture into the two pie plates.  Cook until the eggs set.  You might need to cover the edges of the crust with some foil to keep them from getting too brown.

7.  It takes a while to cook.  Especially depending on how much you fill the pies.  Just remember they're ready when they don't wobble any more.

8.  Remove from oven, let cool slightly, and serve.

Enjoy!  

Painful

This is one of the most heartbreaking stories I've read in a while.  

Father digs grave for his own son

I wanted to mention it because, well, the story should get told.  I don't want to tie it into anything, but I think it runs along the same lines as the health care debate that's going on in our country.

I haven't researched much into the bill Congress is working on, or what President Obama is calling for.  I don't know what side I come down on.  

The only thing that gives me pause on the whole universal health care issue is my experience with a VA hospital.  Personally, my husband and I have great doctors, but we haven't had any reason to receive specialized or long term care in a military hospital.  However, this past winter, my grandfather had to be rushed to an emergency room due to complications from pneumonia.  Although he has his own private health insurance, he chose to go to the VA hospital in Fayetteville, North Carolina because it was the closest to his home.  

From the moment we arrived nothing went right.   

Years ago, Grandpa had to have heart surgery where one valve was replaced with a pig valve.  He was told if he ever picked up any type of infection, he'd have to see a cardiologist right away to make sure the replacement valve wasn't damaged.  Both he and my mother made this clear to the ER staff when they checked in.  It took three days before anyone told us that the Fayetteville VA doesn't have a dedicated cardiac unit.  It took almost a week to find out results from routine blood work because they don't have their own lab - they have to send out all specimens to another hospital in another town.  The hospital itself was in horrible condition...it's old, run down, dark, and I just felt dirty walking through the hallways.  The heater in Grandpa's room broke.  The radiator heater.  The whole hospital is heated with radiators.  Seriously.  Ancient college dorms and first apartments are the only buildings that should have radiator heat.  HOSPITALS SHOULD HAVE CLIMATE CONTROL.  This is a place where people need to be as comfortable as possible to get better, right?  So the radiator broke.  Grandpa was given 5 blankets to keep warm.  Of course we weren't going to stand for that...Mom made a huge fuss, as was necessary, and was able to at least get a portable heater brought in until maintenance came.  All the while we were waiting on the doctor's ok to transfer my grandfather to another hospital since the Fayetteville VA didn't have the basic equipment to do the most basic tests to check his heart.  

Let me say this again.  This hospital... The Fayetteville VA Medical Center DID NOT HAVE THE EQUIPMENT OR PERSONNEL TO DO BASIC TESTS.

AND they made us wait unnecessarily to transfer my grandfather to a hospital that could help him.

Since they could not do tests to check his heart, the doctor wanted to check Grandpa's colon.  Because Grandpa wasn't eating and complained of stomach pain.  So, he drank the gallon of solution (umm...that cleans out the colon...), but since he had a blood infection, he was constantly feverish.  Which meant the procedure couldn't be done.  I don't know whether or not the doctors realized Grandpa's infection would interfere with the colonoscopy, or if they were just hopeful they could get it done regardless.  Two days later (while we're still waiting on the transfer to another hospital) the procedure was rescheduled, and Grandpa drank another gallon of solution.  And yet again, his fever and condition prevented the test.  At this point, Grandpa had be totally cleaned out of anything in his digestive system, anything that was in there to provide nutrients...anything.  Because he wasn't eating.  He was finally put on an IV.  

Two different doctors told us two different things about his blood infection.  First we were told he had staph, a common infection in hospitals.  It's easily transferable however, so we told family members to stay home.  Only my mom, aunt, uncle, and I stayed at the hospital with Grandpa.  No one wanted to risk infecting others.  However, none of the nurses took precautions when around Grandpa.  No masks, no gowns, no sanitizing hands.  Then we were told it wasn't staph - but the doctors didn't know what the infection was.  This is when we found out they didn't have their own lab.  The doctors at the Fayetteville VA couldn't tell us what was wrong with Grandpa.  In any way.  And they weren't transferring him.  

After a week, a week spent talking to anyone in the hospital's administration we could, after pleading with the patient advocate, after witnessing complete incompetence, we were at our wits end.  I was so disheartened, so fed up.  One morning, Mom and I walked into Grandpa's room, and a nurse was there taking his vital signs.  He still had a fever.  He still wasn't eating.  He was wasting away in front of our eyes, and we felt totally powerless.  Later that day, around 3 pm, Mom called in the head nurse because it had been hours and no one had been in to check Grandpa's vitals.  The head nurse called in the nurse from earlier that morning to ask why no one had checked in.  She said she was busy, but she had kept to the required schedule.  I said, "But he has a blood infection.  Isn't that important to keep an eye on?"  The nurse just looked at me and said "I wasn't aware."  WASN'T AWARE?  How could my grandfather's nurse not be aware of the main reason he was sick?  She went on to say he only had a fever because he had so many blankets on him.  WHAT?  How crazy is that?  I lost it.  I had to control myself from yelling at this lady.  I told her that he had only one blanket for the past day, because thankfully the heater had been fixed at that point.  When I walked in that morning while she was checking his temperature, Grandpa only had one blanket on him.  ONE.  She sneered at me, and said, "Sweetie, you're mistaken."  SHE SAID THAT TO ME.  The nurse at the Fayetteville VAMC basically just called me a liar.  

Mom talked to the doctor one last time.  She told him that Grandpa needed to be transfered.  The doctor said the request had been put in, but no other VA hospital in the state had any open beds.  Mom said it didn't have to be a VA center, since Grandpa had other health insurance.  But apparently that's their policy.  Mom said she wasn't going to have Grandpa stay at the Fayetteville VA another night.  It had been too long, we'd been waiting because of promises that weren't getting fulfilled.  The doctor said his hands were tied.  

Mom then told him she wanted to take Grandpa home.  She'd personally take him to another hospital.  The doctor said that would be against medical advice, and since Grandpa was in such a frail state, it could be a fatal decision.  

With all of this going against us, knowing that the hospital Grandpa was in couldn't provide the care he needed, and was in fact making him worse, knowing that the doctors or administration weren't pushing another hospital to accept Grandpa's transfer, knowing that if we were to take matters into our own hands it could be tragic, Mom couldn't take it.  She threatened to sue.  She threatened to sue the nurses, the doctors, the entire hospital.  She told everyone she saw.  Within the hour, we were told a bed had opened up in the Durham VA, and Grandpa would be transfered that night.

I don't know if it was a coincidence or not (actually, I don't believe it was), but threatening legal action was the only way to get what we wanted.  What my grandfather needed.  My mom felt horrible about doing it, she wasn't proud to pull that card, but she didn't know what else to do.  

The Durham VAMC was a completely different experience.  Within a day, his blood infection was identified.  The next day he received the cardiac tests he needed.  It was confirmed that the complications from his bout of pneumonia, and then the subsequent infection from Fayetteville, did damage his replaced heart valve.  With specific IV antibiotics, the infections were cleared up, and the damage was repaired.  Grandpa was out of the Durham VA in a week.  

He's doing much better now, able to live on his own, his appetite is healthy again, and he has almost as much energy as he did before this whole ordeal.  The only lingering problem is that he has some impairment of kidney function.  Kidney damage wasn't a side effect of the blood infection or the antibiotics, but that's the only thing his doctor was sure of.  I recently had heard of a colonoscopy solution causing kidney damage, but it was for the pills that are taken with water.  However, I have my suspicions that when Grandpa drank two gallons of the prepared mixture (needlessly) within a few days, that would have something to do with it.

The only thing Grandpa has ever said about the whole thing was that he made a mistake.  He was adamant about going to the Fayetteville VA, and now he never wants to see it again.  Mom, my aunt, and uncle were upset that they let Grandpa talk them into going where he wanted to go, and not where they thought he should've.  

We don't dwell on the experience though, because Grandpa is doing so much better.

But it makes me scared for my future.  For Joe's future.  We'll more than likely be using VA hospitals.  At least I know what to expect, and I know I need to look into any facility we choose.  

That's all the worrying I want to do though - for myself and my family.  I don't want to worry about everyone else I know.  If universal health care causes more hospitals to work like the Fayetteville VA and the whole VA system, it won't be good.  I know I said the Durham VA was a great place, but I do have to mention that it works in conjunction with Duke University Hospital - a world renown hospital that's right across the street.  And really, do I need to mention the disaster of Walter Reed not that long ago?

Hopefully though, if enough people know about these kinds of mistakes and hardships, then in the future they can be corrected.  Maybe universal health care could work.

Maybe.

Friendly Advice For All Husbands (And Dudes With Girlfriends Whom They'd Like To Keep)

When your wife asks you if the lines around her mouth are noticeable, it's very nice of you to answer that you've never seen them, there's nothing there to worry about, that she'll always look young - no matter what.

Then you should shut up.

And definitely not say, "But I have noticed the bags under your eyes." 

Etsy: Turned into Reality

Artwork Inspiration

Blue Sunglasses Print by tuttistudio

Wearable Pieces

80s Blue Sunglasses from toffie

Hot and Mod Chunky Yellow Lucite Ring from strangexchange

Red Coral Wire Wrapped Ring by artwearbymona

Aloha ohana

I think I can sum up my family's visit in this one image:

It was that crazy good.

But here are a few more fun GIFs anyway...

Mom ringing the bell at Byodo-In Temple

Bryan jumping for joy at Puu Ualakaa Park

Tree climbing and a shower of flowers at Paradise Cove Luau

Kaity and Dad learning the hula

Leave of Absence

My family's coming for a visit.  I cannot express how happy I am to have them here for their too-short stay.  

Check back late next week for pictures and stories about my awesome kin folk.

Aloha y'all!

I Hear You

Men Who Tell Me To Smile

Good grief.  I've thought the very same thing.  Like word for word.  

About a bazillion times.

(via 24 Free Dinners)

ATTENTION EVERYONE I KNOW

THIS could save a lot of hassle.  

I'm  just sayin.

Front Page

Hee!

It's so exciting when I find out one of my items makes it onto the front page of Etsy.  It's only happened one other time.  Like, two years ago.  But still.  

Today my Pet Sketch was featured.  

I wasn't able to see it in person, but I found a screen cap through Flickr.  Look!  There I am.  At the bottom.

Thanks Etsy.  

Sea Gulls Are Jerks!

I've had this link saved for a couple months now.  I visit it every once in awhile; the pictures always make me smile.  It won't disappoint.  I promise.

The looks on those peoples' faces are priceless.  Go check it out.

Birds Stealing Ice Cream

Not-So-Weekly Recipe

I tried to make mashed sweet potatoes.  

I failed. 

 

I don't know how.  But I did.  So in an effort to save as much as I could, I made a pie.  You can't go wrong with pie.

Salvaged Sweet Potato Pie

ingredients

1 package graham crackers, crumbled

1/4 - 1/2 cup melted butter

Ground cinnamon

Mashed sweet potatoes (I peeled and diced 4 good-sized potatoes, and boiled them til soft.  I mashed them with some butter, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and a bit of brown sugar.)

1/2 cup milk

1 large egg

1/4 - 1/2 cup sugar

More cinnamon, and nutmeg, and allspice

directions

1.  Mix graham cracker crumbs, dash of cinnamon, and melted butter.  Use only as much butter as needed to coat crumbs.  Press into bottom of pie plate.

2.  Scramble egg in a large bowl.  Add sugar (amount depends on how much sugar was used in the "mashing" part.  I used close to 1/2 cup white sugar, but brown sugar would be great, too).  Combine mashed sweet potatoes.  Mix.  At this part, I remembered pumpkin pies need condensed milk...  so I went ahead and added some regular fat-free milk.  I couldn't really say how much, but just enough to thin out the potato mixture.  

3.  Dump in a bunch of spices.  Well, you know.  Whatever seems reasonable.

4.  Mix.
5.  Pour into pie crust.  Bake in preheated oven at 350* for umm...an hour.  It might have been longer.  Just keep checking on it.  It's done when the center doesn't jiggle any more.

It turns out really rustic looking, which I like.  Of course this isn't the best summertime recipe, but it was a nice way to save a misfired meal, and it kinda reminds you of Thanksgiving.  Which is always nice anyhow.

Add a dollop  of whipped cream, and enjoy!

I Can Haz Goggie Look-A-Like?

Me, 26 years ago.  Playing in a bucket, and completely ignoring the kiddie pool right beside it.

Loldog, from I Has A Hotdog

Look at the matching hands on the rim of the buckets.  Twins!  ZOMG!!1!!!

Etsy: Turned into Reality

Artwork Inspiration

Blanche by RobynHyzy

Wearable Pieces

Vintage Gold Feather Sequins Dress from Apocalypsevintage

Pure n Simple by Jcjewelrydesign

Gold Embroidered Handbag from Pomoga

Extremely Pathetic Personal Confession

I've been loosing track of what day of the week it is, because the regular t.v. schedule is on summer hiatus.

Regarding Daniel Craig and Pressure From Our Mothers Wanting Grandkids

Sheri:  If you can find me someone who looks like him, I'll pop out some babies right now.

Not APPreciated

Dear Apple,

I'm a huge fan.  I love your work.

However, I have some qualms over about the App Store.  Could you please cut it out with all the naked lady apps?  I mean really.  It's getting ridiculous.  

Not to mention offensive.  

And degrading.

And totally lacking in any kind of creative effort.

Seriously.

Thanks,

Kelly

Our Fifth Wedding Anniversary

Do I need another reason to love this man?

Nope.

Illi!

I won these adorable earrings through a give-away Illi ran through her website, illihandmade.  

Too cute, right?  

Her site is great, and her Etsy shop is filled with even more kawaii goodness!  Make sure to check it out.

27! It's pretty cool...

Etsy: Turned into Reality

Artwork Inspiration

Eidyia by EmilyBalivet

Wearable Pieces

Metal Barrette Brass Stamping from Artpassionsdesign

Peacock Feather Cluster Clip by Washedupmermaid

Full Moon Pearl Necklace by Soradesigns

How typical

Good news from the doctor.

I just had an atypical spot.

Nothing serious.

But very relieved.

Not-So-Weekly Recipe

Hawaiian food is really similar to Southern food when you get down to it.  There's lots of deep frying, lots of side dishes, and lots of influences.  All in the best way possible.  

Manapua is without question my favorite local food so far.  

And here's my very southern take on it.

Southern Manapua

ingredients:

1 1/2 cups Bisquick mix

1/2 cup milk

About 1/2 cup finely chopped, cooked, chicken (I used leftovers...I generously season my chicken breasts with pepper, garlic salt, onion powder, Italian Medley Mrs. Dash, and parsley, both sides, and cook them on our little George Forman grill)

6 slices cheddar cheese, or about a handful of shredded

butter and garlic salt (optional)

directions:

1.  Preheat oven to 450*

2.  Prepare biscuit mix.  Using box directions, simply mix milk into Bisquick.  

3.  Spoon out 6 mounds of dough onto baking sheet.  Flatten as best as possible (it's pretty sticky).

4.  Pile on chicken and cheese.

5.  Cover biscuits with remaining dough.

6.  Cooks up in less than 10 minutes.  So keep an eye on 'em.

7.  Just before taking out of the oven, lightly brush with butter and sprinkle with garlic salt.

Enjoy!

Slice of life

Dear Blog,

I just got back from the doctor.  I had a spot (mole?) removed from my back.  Not a huge ordeal...a couple family members and a close friend also had the same thing done.  

But still... it's, uh, NOT fun.

I have a week for the stitches to heal.  And a week until results come back from the pathology lab.

Holding my breath for positive (negative?) results,

k 

Unaware

Since when did 4-20 become, like, a national holiday?

What's four twenty?

April 20th.  The day.  For stoners.  It's been all over the radio, and on tv.

Oh.  I thought that was something for Canada.

Seriously?

ZOMG!

Fuck You, Penguin:  A Blog Where I Tell Cute Animals What's What

Etsy: Turned into Reality

Artwork Inspiration

Horsewoman by Irisschwarz

Wearable Pieces

Double Hoop Drops by Bonnieboardman

Strapless Burlesque Bra from Funkomavintage

Black Leggings by Lamixx

Tall Vintage Black Suede Boots from Sophistikate

Sorry...

Things got a little rant-y there for a bit.

Body Issues

So while I was flipping around channels the other day, I stopped on the Style Network because "Style Me Famous" was on.  It'd been a long time since I'd seen an episode, and I always thought it was kinda fun.

However, this one show really got to me.  It focused on a great lady who wanted to change her look, to resemble Queen Latifah.  

About 10 minutes in, when they started to do the shopping segment, I got so fed up I turned off the t.v.  The stylist would pick out outfits, and tell the participant how great it would look on her.  How it would "fix any problem areas" or "cover your flaws."  

Heaven forbid a heavy set woman doesn't own a wrap dress that will fix her multitude of flaws.

The stylists on the show were always quick to mention undergarments and support pieces...but they weren't to make you smaller...just smooth everything out.  Because that's what's really important.

But they kept saying the word FLAWS.  I don't know how that lady put up with it.  It was so underhanded...and it really got under my skin.

Flaws.  

Something's wrong with her body.

How horrible is it having someone repeatedly pointing out that your body is wrong, all under the pretense of helping.

It's embarrassing.

There's been lots of talk lately about accepting larger sizes; about the fashion industry veering away from size 0's.  The average American woman is a size 14.  I'm a size 14.  And it's super hard to find clothes a lot of times.  Forget high end fashion designers.  Almost all don't go passed size 10 or 12.  Big girls like interesting clothes too, you know.  

So frustrating.  

Some reading material, to see where I'm coming from:

The triumph of curves

Are we really experiencing the "Triumph of Curves?"

Celestial Bodies

5 Resolutions to Transform the Fashion and Beauty Industries

Overweight Women:  To Be Celebrated?  Or Shamed?

My Achy Breaky Heart Can't Take It Any More

I am so over Miley Cyrus.

For serious.

Why is she everywhere?  And why are all sorts of news outlets treating her like she's dropping little golden nuggets of wisdom out of her mouth?  She's 16.  She wrote a memoir.  At age 16.  ...Actually since it was just published, she had to have been at least 15 when it was done.  Which is more infuriating.  

But still.

16!

We.  Don't.  Care.

My sister is the same age.  I love her more than anything, but I don't go to her for life-insights or to shape my world view.  Teenagers don't know anything!  That's kinda the whole point to growing up.

Get back to me in about 20 years.

Not cool...

Seeing a centipede crawling along the outside of Joe's sock drawer, as he was pulling out a pair of socks.  

The drawer is in a dresser that's right beside the bed.  

Of that dresser, the sock drawer is the only drawer at THE EXACT SAME LEVEL AS MY FACE.

I was less than 6 inches away from that sci-fi creepy crawly.  

Dude, do you even know about centipedes?  If you did, you'd so be freaking out with me on this.  They have CLAWS!  POISONOUS CLAWS!  And, like, a gazillion legs.  That make them move really fast.  And hard shells which make them hard to kill....which also causes a disgusting crunch when you finally do.  

And they leave the nastiest mess on the floor.

Ugh  ::full body shudder::

Not cool Mother Nature.  Not cool.

Black thumb

While watching tv, a commercial for Home Depot comes on.  Of course filled with tons of beautiful flowers and people looking happy in the middle of all that Spring-ness.

Me:  [heavy sigh]  I wish I had a garden like that.  I can't even keep potted plants alive.

Joe:  But there's that one on the patio...

Me:  Yeah, but it's growing sideways!

Joe:  True.  I guess it's trying to get away from you.  [laugh]  Like when you go to water it, do you hear a faint "uurrrgggg" and see exposed roots on one side?

Kinda makes a girl weak in the knees

Adorableness found at Cute and Cuter

Projects in the works

Idol

Dear iTunes,

Your Genius feature rocks my socks off.  It's amazing really.  I'll love you forever and ever because of it.  

But.

Just because I bought that naughty version of "Ring of Fire" by that one dude from American Idol does NOT mean I want MORE MUSIC FROM THE REST OF THOSE PEOPLE.

Sooo...can you kinda get smarter about my recommendations now?  Please?

Thanks.

Warm regards,

Kelly

Etsy: Turned into Reality

Artwork Inspiration

Too Shy No.15 by Rosiemusic

Wearable Pieces

Vintage 1930s Freestyle Bow Tie from Elizabethwrenvintage

and don't forget that zipper boy Shirt from VeraVague

Vintage Suit Vest from Amyhartranft

Vintage Wool Trousers from StelmaDesigns

Because I need a laugh

And I'm just cool enough to share the lolz

Punch Lines - collections of the funniest parts from the funniest jokes of the funniest comedians

Along the same line

One of the most amazing short films I've ever seen

via Hula Seventy

Recurring question

I've often wondered how many strangers' photographs I end up in.  How often do people sit around a photo album, and see me?  Of course they don't know it's me, but I'm there.

Irish eyes are smiling

Joe:  I forgot it's St. Patrick's Day today.  Did you?

Me:  Of course not.  I remembered.

Joe:  Oh.

[pause]

...But you're not wearing any green.

Me:  I don't have to wear green.  I bleed green.