Rattlesnake Ledge Hike

Steve and I had the chance to enjoy a nice hike at Rattlesnake Mountain last Thursday.  It was 1.9 miles up and 1.9 back down.  Tough one on the legs but it was beautiful. Enjoy the pictures below!

Back to Days

So after four weeks on night shift I am back to days AND on my own.  What I learned about night shift (since I will be going back in a month or so) is that it is a WEIRD schedule.  Fortunately Steve is super flexible with his schedule right now so that worked out okay but it is weird to stay up all night, it is especially odd to eat a meal in the middle of the night and it is impossible to adjust yourself appropriately on the days off.

Anyway, I am back to day shift for a couple of months and I am on my own.  My first day went well so I am looking forward to the challenges to come!

Omelet for Two by Barefoot Contessa

¼ Pound Good thick-cut bacon
1 T unsalted butter
1 Cup Medium-Diced Yukon Gold Potato
½ Cup Chopped Yellow Onion
1 T Minced Jalapeno Pepper
5 Extra Large Eggs
2 T Milk or Cream
1 t Kosher Salt
½ t Freshly Ground Black Pepper
¼ Cup Chopped Scallions, white and green parts
4 Ounces Extra-sharp Cheddar, diced plus grated cheese for garnish

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Cut the bacon crosswise in 1-inch pieces. Cook the bacon in an 8-inch ovenproof sauté pan over medium-low heat for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until browned. Drain the bacon on paper towels and discard the fat from the pan. Add the butter to the pan, then add the potato and yellow onion. Cook over medium-low heat for about 10 minutes, tossing occasionally, until the onion starts to brown and the potato is tender but firm. Add the jalapeno pepper and cook for 30 seconds.

Meanwhile, in a medium bowl beat the eggs, milk, salt, and pepper together with a fork. Stir in the scallions and diced Cheddar. When the potato is cooked, add the bacon to the pan and pour over the egg mixture. Place the pan in the oven for 15 to 20 minutes, until the omelet puffs and the eggs are almost cooked in the center. Sprinkle a handful of grated Cheddar and bake for another minute. Serve hot directly from the pan.

2 Weeks Under My Belt

I just finished my first two weeks on night shift and am now on my six days off!  Night shift is interesting, it is a bit slower paced but still very busy.  I have discovered that the first night is the hardest in terms of sleep.  I can't sleep late the morning of work, wake up at 10am at the latest and then basically stay up for 24 hours.  Kind of stinks but makes the second day of sleep easier.  I haven been able to fall asleep easily when I get home in the morning but wake up 4 or 5 times.

During the night, the hardest thing to do is eat.  I do NOT feel like eating a full meal at 1am when I take my "lunch" but it seems to be working out okay.

Well I survived and I realize I definitely can survive on night shift so that is good!

Suggestions Please

So on the days leading up to night shift (which is 6:45pm to 7:15am), I have been trying to stay up later and later . . . much past my 10pm bedtime which I was used to. Anyway, I am running into a small problem, what to do past 10pm. I don't like watching TV all that much and there are only so many things you can look up on the computer. Any ideas would be most helpful!!