I applied

   I asked for the information about the job working for the military hospital.  Now I just wait until I get an answer.  Of course the military is a young persons service so I expect some problem with that, but I am not a fighting person.  I want to take care of the men and women who are fighting and I am very experienced at at saving lifes.   I want to save their lives.  So I will have to convince them to look past my age and to my experience.  Wish me luck, wish me luck in letting my husband get used to the idea.  I am more excited about this then I have been in a long time.

Thinking of a job change

 I am thinking of a job change!  I got a job offer in my mail.  Happens all the time, but this one I am interested in.  Travel nursing.  Travel nurses working for a VA hospital or a military hospital.   Immediately   I was interested.  

    I think a storm is coming.  I see it, I feel it.  I hear about it in the news.  The back news, but soon it will be the front news.  I want to be there in the front.  I feel this is going to affect us all and I feel I can help.  I have the skills to help the people who are fighting for our freedom.  Even those of us who don't know what we are losing.

     I want to help the men and women who are fighting for us.   I will be good at it.  I will save lives.  It means leaving the comfort zone I have built up.  It means stressing out my husband, but it means so much to me.  To us.  Because a storm is coming.  I want to prepare.  We all need to prepare.  So I am applying for this job.  I want to take care of the soldiers taking care of us.  I want to do this for my country.

Yah for my long week off!

       

  Ok, I love my job, but I really love my week off.  Wha Hoo.   I had such a long day yesterday.  Class from 8 am until noon, had to do some shopping, made supper, worked from 7pm until 7:30 am and then had to try on our new uniforms.  Finally bed from 9am to 1pm.  Now I am up and drinking my coffee.  Ready for my week off to begin.  What will I do?

   I am soooooo sore from working out.  I let myself get back into bad shape.  Tomorrow I will hit the gym as I will Saturday and Monday, Tuesday, wed.  etc.....  I will get back to being able to work out without feeling like I got hit by a truck if it kills me, and it may, LOL. 

   Also I have to wrap the kids presents and get them mailed out.  It is going to cost me a fortune.  Payday is tomorrow.  Finally a full check, the first since I got sick with my gall bladder.  Boy will that be nice.  I also want to put up the tree.

  I really thought about not putting up the tree this year earlier.  It just seemed silly with the grandchildren gone and my husband and son are both pretty baa hum bug about Christmas.  Getting all the lights on the trees always has my husband muttering every swear word known to man and until the lights are up the tension gets pretty bad.  But then we get to put on the ornaments. 

 

    Rick and I have spent 33 years collecting these.  When the children were small every year we would make new ornaments to hangon the tree.  Some of those have survived.  And we collect Santa ornaments.  I have hundreds.  We hit the stores the day after Christmas and buy the ones we have scoped out before Christmas for 50 % off.  That is half the fun, getting them for less.  Sometimes though we buy them right away, they are so perfect we must have them knowing they will sell out never to be seen again.  Getting my ornaments out is like Christmas because sometimes I have forgotten we bought it as I packed it right away when we got it.  All bring back memories and all are marked with the date we got them.  From the 100 year old glass Santa on top of the tree that was my husbands grandmothers and which came from Denmark to the stuffed Santa under the tree all were lovingly picked out for its facial expression.  Yes, I do have nativities and I do celebrate the reason for the season but I love my Santa's.  And if I don't put my tree up I won't get to see my Santa's.  So the tree goes up this weekend.  Maybe making my husband a hot buttered rum will help.

    I got this catalog today.  I love their clothes.  So pretty and they have a sweater I really like.  Thing is every sweater in this catalog and in their store is $79.99!    Now if that sweater had been hand made by skilled hands with loving touches here and there I would think it was a bargain.  However it was probably made overseas by underpaid labor for about $2.00  Then they drape it on overpaid and underfed models and pimp it to us fat gramma's who want to look beautiful and sexy.  A bargain at any price!  Except it just isn't worth what they charge.  Maybe if it had been made in the good ole USA I would pay $20.00.  But not for how much they mark it up.

 

   We have Alfs manufacturing here.  They make fancy blue jeans.  They are all made in the same place but different labels are put on them.  Some sell for $20.00, some sell for $80.00 just because of the tag.  They are made on the same machines, by the same workers, with the same thread and the same denim but the tag is different.  I tried telling that to my son.  When he pays for a name brand he is allowing them to rip us off.  And that is new to his generation. 

   Of course Hollyweird stars have always gone by who made their clothes, its a status thing, but when my kid wanted tennis shoes that cost $150.00 just because they were made by a certain company and a certain tall sports person wears them something is wrong.  Have you tried to buy clothes without their advertising on it?  They should pay me to be wearing their clothes, not me paying more to advertise for them.  I don't, my husband doesn't.  If they have their product label splashed all over  the clothing I won't touch it.

 

    My older son does though.   My granddaughter had to have Baby Gap, What!  You paid how much for that ugly outfit!  That she will outgrow in 3 weeks.... are you nuts.... ARE YOU NUTS.........  DO YOU HAVE SUCKER ON YOUR FOREHEAD..........  ARE YOU REALLY A CHILD OF MINE!  I guess you can't pass on common sense and that is what they are hoping for.  Such a consumer my kids are.  The merchants love them.  I think they are nuts.

   Anyway, I seem to be ranting and raving lately.  Maybe I am going to become a cranky old lady.  Naaaa, gives you the wrong wrinkles and at my age I am cultivating my wrinkles.  I want smile wrinkles, not prissy cranky wrinkles.  Smile Julie smile.  I am going out for a beer and pizza with my husband.  Haven't been able to lately and I need to unwind.   Yes I know the calories are totally out of the ballpark but I need it, I want it and life it too short for bad beer!

Survivors

                                                 This is dedicated to

Those Born 1930-1979!

TO ALL THE KIDS
WHO SURVIVED the
1930's 40's , 50's, 60's and 70's !!

First, we survived being born to mothers who smoked

and/or drank while they were pregnant.
They took aspirin, ate blue cheese dressing, tuna from a can,

and didn't get tested for diabetes.

Then after that trauma, we were put to sleep on our tummies in

baby cribs covered with bright colored lead-based paints.

We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, doors or cabinets

and when we rode our bikes, we had no helmets,

not to mention, the risks we took hitchhiking

As infants & children, we would ride in cars with no car seats,

booster seats, seat belts or air bags.

Riding in the back of a pick up on a warm day was always a special treat.


We drank water from the garden hose and NOT from a bottle.

We shared one soft drink with four friends, from one bottle

and NO ONE actually died from this.

We ate cupcakes, white bread and real butter and drank koolade made with sugar,

but we weren't overweight because .

WE WERE ALWAYS OUTSIDE PLAYING !

We would leave home in the morning and play all day,

as long as we were back when the streetlights came on.

No one was able to reach us all day.

And we were O.K.

Wewould spend hours building our go-carts out of scraps and

then ride down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes.

After running into the bushes a few times, we learned to solve the problem.

We did not have Playstations, Nintendo's, X-boxes, no video games at all,

no 150 channels on cable, no video movies or DVD's, no surround-sound ,

CD's or Ipods, no cell phones! , no personal computers ,

no Internet or chat rooms.......
WE HAD FRIENDS and we went outside and found them!

We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth and there were no
lawsuits from these accidents.

We ate worms and mud pies made from dirt, and the worms did not live in us forever.

We were given BB guns for our 10th birthdays,
made up games with sticks and tennis balls and, although we were told it would happen,

we did not put out very many eyes.
We rode bikes or walked to a friend's house and knocked on the door

or rang the bell, or just walked in and talked to them!

Little League had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who didn't had to

learn to deal with disappointment. Imagine that!!

The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law was unheard of.

They actually sided with the law!

These generations have produced some of the best risk-takers,

problem solvers and inventors ever!

The past 50 years have been an explosion of innovation and new ideas.

We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learned

HOW TO
DEAL WITH IT ALL!

                        If YOU are one of them . . CONGRATULATIONS!

Certified again and on my Soapbox

                

  Not that I was worried because after this many years if I haven't got it down pat by now, God help my patients.  It is good to go over though and we have to do this every 2 years.  Of course we go to codes all the time, but they change occasionally when they find something that works better.  The best of care, because we care.

             

   I got this joke in my email and thought I would share.  It is so true.  Think about this when you are tempted to go overboard on Christmas.

         

 

A friend and his wife decided that letting their young son open all his gifts at once on Christmas morning always turned into present overload. So last December they decided to hold back the big gift -- a bike -- until after lunch. Unable to figure out how to wrap it, they tied a balloon to the handlebars.

Christmas Day arrived, lunch was eaten, and then the boy's mother announced, "Look what else Santa brought you." And with that, my friend wheeled in the bike. "Yippee," the boy shouted. "A balloon!"

    I did that with my niece.  I bought her a beautiful doll, just lovely with the prettiest dress.  It came in a shiny gold box.  My niece loved it.  Happily she tossed the doll aside and played with the box the rest of the evening.  I could have saved myself 20 dollars and just bought a shiny box.  When asked later what her favorite present had been she grabbed the box.  I was so proud.

              

   Reading today about the horrible problems with nursing homes.  Most of them are for profit, run in the black and give the most sub standard care.  To cheap to pay the help well, the turn over is high and patient ratio is extremely unsafe.  Imagine taking care of 20 to 30 patients alone!  

          

   In the past there were retirement homes.  Real homes run by either a family or the town.  Most had no more the 10 clients that they knew by name.  Of course most people stayed at home with families but for those with no families they had these homes.  Then the government got involved.  Put all of those places out of business by over regulating them.  Sure some needed some help, but most did not.  Think OSHA and all their rules.  How could it possibly be they can find infractions every single time?  It costs businesses millions to do all the things required and most of them were places that had great safety records before OSHA ever stepped in the place.  How can someone sit at a desk and decide how it should run without ever stepping in the place?   

        

    Now we have large nursing homes.  Nothing is stacked too close to the ceiling, the railing are exactly 22 inches off the floor.  There is a smoke detector every 20 feet and a fire extinguisher in every hall.  More smoke detectors then staff.  People go there to recover and get minimal care for their huge bill.  And it is huge for what they get.  It would be cheaper to hire a full time home health aide, but insurance won't cover that.  The care would probably be better.  I can't tell you all the stories I have seen of the neglect and poor care from some of these homes.  You can't blame the staff, they do as best they can with the few help they get.  Frequently they are staffed by agency help who have never been there before and don't know the patients.  That is when they are lucky enough to get the extra help.

        

  I hear some states are going back to the group home type retirement home.   The government still puts unrealistic regulations on them but it is homier and the home takes much fewer patients.  Not every state has done that yet though.  Most of here on the boards are the baby boomers.  This is the type of care we are going to get.  We need to speak up now and demand better care.  Some humane societies treat their dogs and cats better then we treat our elderly.  Its criminal.

        

   Well boy am I on my soap box again.  But the elderly are not useless things to be tucked away and forgotten except for on holidays and birthdays.  Tips for making sure your loved one gets as good a care as possible in one of those places.  Don't go at the same time everyday or every week.  Vary your visits so the staff doesn't know when to expect you.  Trust me, if you come everyday at 11 they will make sure she or he is up at 10:45.  Visit more then once a day if possible.  Call and ask how everything is going.  Check toothbrushes to see if they are dry and don't look like they have been used.  Don't yell at the staff, ask to talk to the owners of the home.  Check you loved ones skin condition.  Are they getting pressure sores from not beingturned?  Write your congressmen and state officials and tell them you want your elderly cared for correctly.  Ask how many staff members are on duty each and every shift and what they do when they have call in's.  Protect your family members because they did it for you when you weren't able to.  Ask to have your family member weighed weekly and check to see what the weight is.  If your loved one is losing weight ask why.  Learn how to check skin turgor to see if your loved one is dehydrated, a very common problem, and get you loved one something like a sippy cup they can easily hold onto and not worry about spilling.  I know there are more great tips out there.  Pass them on.

          

Ready for class

  Now 8 oclock doesn't sound like early to many of you, but to us night workers it is very early.  They called me last night and gave me low census which was great.  I was happy I didn't have to work and I went to sleep around 10:30.  Now for 4 hours of coding dummies and trying not to look stupid this early in the morning.  The way to do this is get into a group of gung ho men and let them rule your  group.  Then I will just sit there and nod knowingly sipping on my coffee.  Yes, Yes I agree. 

   Last time I had a bunch glum on to me as the senior nurse so I had to be the one looking like I knew what I was doing.  I do know but first thing in the morning my brain doesn't work as well until I have at least a pot of coffee.  It is hard to verbalize sometimes what you do when your training is so automatic.  In a real code you just do it without having to discus each little step and why your doing, know what I mean or am I rambling?

   I am not really worried about not passing,  I have done this 5 times already plus I have done pediatric but I hear they are getting really strict this year.  New teacher with a class A personality.  Old nurse with fuzzy coffee brain, what a great team. 

  Well off I go...........

Just to clarify about the mammogram

   I just wanted to make sure I don't scare anyone away from such an important test.   I knew it was going to be more painful then normal as my Doctor had warned me it would be after my breast reduction.  Normally although they are uncomfortable they are not, and I repeat ARE NOT as painful as mine was the other day.  This was definately the most painful one I have ever had and it should be better next year.  She said it had something to do with the scar tissue.  I actually have bruises today and am very tender which has never happened before. 

    So Meg, Darling, do get your mammogram.  It is so important.  Really it is.  There is a very good reason mine was painful.  Yours will be much better. 

     There.  I was afraid I might have scared some people off from ever getting one.  Don't ya all feel much better now?

The Gym

  I did it, finally got off my amble behind and made it to the gym.  I was smart enough, surprise surprise, to take it easy the first time back.  So I only did the treadmill for 20 minutes and only set my speed to 3.4 and my incline to 5.5.  My MP3 was great.  I could workout to my favorite music and watch the burley boys show off to the mirrors,               They are all legends in their own minds, LOL.  To me that looks just plain scary.  

    It seems to have not taken any time at all for me to get in terrible awful shape.  I sweated out buckets.  Since I forgot my water bottle I had to drink their terrible water and I also forgot my inhaler.  It will take me awhile to remember all the things I need.  After the treadmill I used the weight machines for a hour but cut down on all the weights so I will still hopefully be able to move tomorrow.  And you know what?  It felt great to be back and working out again.  Such a good high.  We shall see if I feel so good tomorrow or if all my flabby muscles scream at me.

   When I got home Rick, who didn't go with me, had gotten a call from the Doctors office and they finally made him an appointment to see the heart specialist.  They gave the doctors office a bad time about not doing an EKG when he was there and in A-Fib.  We are so used to it it didn't occur to any of us to get one.  We knew what it was but they wanted one.  Oh well.  So far the new med Rick is on has prevented another attack but we shall see.  He has been having 2 a month lately and will be due soon.

   Thought I would show a picture of my hospital,

  Mercy Medical Center - Sioux City  Of course that is only part of it as it is a couple of blocks and is about 4 different additions with the oldest being I think from 1920's  The heart center which is the windowed area you see is the newest addition.  Cardiac rehab is up there and you can look out the window while you do your exercises.  We are rated number 1 in Iowa for our heart care.

  Well, have to finish my chores.  Just got my laundry done and now have to get my running around done.  Bye all.

The gym today

   

   Today is the day.  I am getting ready for they gym.  It has been sooooo long since I have been.  Can we say lazy!  It doesn't take much to make me not go.  Today I am going even though I have a long day ahead of me. 

   I have to go to the bank and get some money to send to my son.  We found Dora's talking dollhouse but the thing is huge!  It would cost me 25 dollars to ship it.  I will make them get it and wrap it.  I have to study more today also. 

   My pre-test is done and I feel comfortable with everything but the drug doses.  I am glad I don't have to actually call the drug doses.  Actually most codes I have been to, and I have been to alot since I am part of the code team and did nursing services for so many years, we only use 3 or 4 routinely and they are pre mixed.  Now a days, unless it is on my floor, the only thing I have to do at the codes is record.  I have't had to give the drugs in years since that is another code members job.  We each have our job to do so the code runs smoothly and I am happy I don't do the drugs.  Or the ventilating as there is a real techique to using a mask to ventilate someone and large hands help.  Not tubby little hands like mine.  I also don't mind doing chest compressions but not for long as it makes my back hurt.  Because of my class tomorrow I only have to work until 11:30 today.  Another thing I have to do is go to the antique shop to see if I sold anything so I can restock if necessary. 

  Soon my long stretch off thank goodness and Friday my first full check since before my surgery.  Boy will that be welcome.  Thank goodness for my son helping me out this month.

  Well, I have to get ready to go.  I don't think hubby is going and I am not putting it off waiting for him anymore.  I need to work out.

 

 

I survived

                       

             I survived and I'm sorry, It Hurt!  Yikes I don't remember it hurting that bad.  Maybe it was because my new small set is denser and maybe not 100 % recovered or maybe the woman's technique was poor, but this was the worse one I ever had.  "Hold your breath", she said, "don't breath or move!" "Can I scream", I asked!  She thought I was joking, I wasn't.  WWWHHHHAAAAAAA. 

    So then she says to sit in the dressing room while she checks the pictures to make sure they are OK.  The other woman there are looking at each others like survivors.  We Alone survived.  One by one the tech came in and released the lucky woman who sprang to their feet and happily ran.....free for another year.  My tech came out.  "OK Julie, I need to get one more picture"!  "NO" I cried, "Sob".  With dragging feet I followed her back to torture room number 5,  Cheerfully she said, "We might as well repeat both again to see if we can get a better picture".  What!  "Its just the scar tissue", I wailed!  So once again I was flattened to unbelievable thinness in the vice from hell.  I'll tell you anything I cried,.... you can have my first born........ Please, I'll be good from now on, no more cheating on my diet, no more tasting the grapes at the store, let this horror end soon.  And then it was my time to leave.  Cradling my sore and tender breasts in my arms I ran from the building into my husbands alarmed arms.  "Are you OK", he asked shocked!  Noooooooo, sob, yes yes.  It's over.  However next week the doctor gets back from vacation and will read it.  Well she ask to have the test repeated?  Is the horror not over yet?   Time will tell.

   Maybe by next week I will be completely invisible.  If you can't see my breasts they must be disease free.  Gone like my budda tummy how could they take pictures of them.  And I think I am getting more invisible.  At the store a woman ran into me with her cart.  Sorry she snapped, I did't see you.  Driving home a car almost ran into my car.  Does it spread to what I am riding in? 

    One of my feminist friends said my invisibility is due to "The use of ‘he’ ‘him’ rather than he/she, him/her or’ person’, promotes the invisibility of women and counters the need to present women as an important social category. It also negates 20 years of active efforts to promote the rights of women"  Hummmmmm, she always did have issues though.

    So I am off today.  Of course I didn't get to be until 11:30 and then only slept until 3:30 so I could sleep tonight.  And I have to study for my ACLS renewal.  That is advanced cardiac life support.  I hate this class.  It makes you run a code like your the doctor and you have to know all the heart rhythms, call out the drugs and doses and tell them what joules to use when shocking. 

    It didn't use to be so bad but we have so many drug changes these days and the woman who teaches the class is a very high strung type person who gets the entire class high strung.  It doesn't matter that in a real code the doctor calls for all the drugs and doses.  I could not imagine telling a couple of them, "excuse me but don't you think this drug would be a better choice?   Yah right, goodbye head".  I mean, I work in a trauma hospital, the code team is there so fast that I barely have time to start compressions and many times they beat the code cart.  I love that in a code team.  But....it is part of my job so I will spend tonight and tomorrow studing for the Wednesday class.  That will be a long day.  Class from 8 am to 12 noon,  then work from 7p to 7am.  I have to be charge that night at 11 so I will be tired.

   Well, I will close now and get busy with my homework.  Take care everyone.

Oh No! Mammogram time again!

      

   I was checking my calendar to see if I would have a good day off or a busy day off tomorrow.  Oh No!  My mammogram is tomorrow at 10.  Whaaaaaaa.  I know, I know, its important.  I realize that, after all I am a medical professional.   Still, it hurts, plus if you have read my journal for awhile you know I had my god given gifts made smaller last year.  So from what I hear the first one after that is a little more painful then normal.  That is Doctors speak for its going to hurt like hell.  Last year they stretched my then huge breasts so hard I tore underneath.  Then I hear because of the scar tissue involved from turning watermelons into oranges they sometimes have to repeat it because something looks suspicious.  Hellooooooo, its called scar tissue.  Sigh.  Now I am bummed and I bet the night will just rip by.  But it is very important.  I can whine and whimper all I want, it is a necessary evil.   Wish me luck.

 

Reflections

  In the middle of the night, after lights out and family and friends are sound asleep, patients who have put on braves faces and cheery smiles lie awake with their fears. 

   What they don't show their families, wanting to spare them I think, they show to the night nurses.  It shows in their trouble sleep, tossing and turning.  It shows in an increase in their pain as they dwell on their illness.  It shows in their eyes and the way they grab your hand and hold on. 

      Letting their fears out so they can again be brave and unafraid for families in the morning.  Such a simple thing as sitting there holding their hands, turning their pillows and washing away the sweat and fears with a warm cloth. 

  This is why I like my night shift.  When I can do my bed checks and see my patients sleeping easily and peacefully I know I have helped.  Even if they were to never tell me, even if I were to never hear it from my bosses or admininstation it would not matter.  Because we night nurses know.

I thought this was nice

                                 DEATH~

       WHAT A WONDERFUL WAY TO EXPLAIN IT!!!!!

 

A sick man turned to his doctor,

as he was preparing to leave the examination room and said,

"Doctor, I am afraid to die.

Tell me what lies on the other side."

Very quietly, the doctor said, "I don't know."

"You don't know?

You, a Christian man, do not know what is on the other side?"

The doctor was holding the handle of the door;

on the other side came a sound of scratching and whining,

and as he opened the door,

a dog sprang into the room

and leaped on him with an eager show of gladness.

Turning to the patient, the doctor said,

"Did you notice my dog?

He's never been in this room before.

He didn't know what was inside.

He knew nothing except that his master was here,

and when the door opened, he sprang in without fear.

I know little of what is on the other side of death,

but I do know one thing...

I know my Master is there and that is enough."

 

Have you joined the tournament?

Registration has begun!

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  OK,  I have never done this but it sounds like fun.  Check it out!  Come on, it will be fun.

2 more nights.

     

        It's beginning to look alot like Christmas, every journal I go, ta da da da da da da.....  Now I like Christmas,  not so much food to worry about as I don't do the cookie thing and my MIL doesn't either.  We get a fair share at work but usually by the time the night shift gets to work the day workers have eaten most of it up, and for sure the really tasty fattening things up.  We get the apples and oranges, LOL. Fine with me.

   Guess what?  I have sore muscles, yes even almost invisible muscles apparently can get sore!  Why? Because I have been exercising again.  Do my Tai Chi for seniors tape, Yah I know but really, it kicks your butt!  Really.  Also I have been hiking in the woods behind the house climbing up the steep hills I like to avoid.  Getting ready for the gym Monday on my day off.  Like Rocky I climb to the top of the hill and survey the city, heart pounding around 200 BPM,  Squeaky Tarzan yell,  I am woman, hear me!  I AM WOMAN.  Of course since I am becoming invisible no one can see me unless they really look, LOL

    2 more nights.  I think I will make it.  I have a 5 hour energy, am getting ready to pop into the shower and my hubby has a meal planned.  Not a on plan meal sigh, but I can work around that.  I still have 850 calories to use up tonight to hit my 1500 goal.  His meals do push the fat envelope though if I am not careful.  Darn man.  But he is cooking and as I mentioned, when I become completely invisible it wont matter, I won't be a chubby tubby anymore!  Goodbye budda belly.

  Well, time for my shower.  Have a great weekend all.

Things I can do when Transparent!

     I have been trying to think of what fun neat things I will be able to do when I am completely transparent.  If I was a teenage boy I would do the the girls locker thing, but since I am a middle age grandma what could I do in comparison?  Sneak into the men's locker room?  Oh goody, more naked men, like I don't see that everyday at work.  Believe you me, the magic and mystery is long gone.   OK, sneak into a movie?  They will have to make better ones then they do now.  And how about my Monday date night with my Hubby?  It would look like he was ordering 2 beers for himself.  Of course I could get into all the national parks without paying so that is one plus.

    My husband has offered up the theory that the fading in the picture is symbolizing my fading youth........Hummmmmm

     My son thinks its because I have lost enough weight I am just a shadow of my former self, now that's sweet.

    No Greg, no photoshop magic because I haven't figured out how to do that.  I did set the camera up with a delayed timer so  could get in the picture but remember the flash so I am not sure why it turned out like that. And when I tried walking through the closed door I almost broke my nose!

   Will I still enjoy bike riding, bubble baths, kissy face with my hubby, or hugging my grandchildren the same way when I am completely transparent.  What will my patients think having Julie the friendly transparent nurse taking care of them?   It will save me on clothes though.  No more bad hair days!  Me fat?  How can you tell?

   Anyway, notice the way my 85 year old MIL is still only slightly faded.  I knew she would out live me!  Shes too stubborn to go first, LOL.

   Well, off to bed.  We had a terribly busy night.  Many many many cardiac caths today, a few code blues, some tragic, some miracles.  Night life at a busy trauma hospital is rarely boring.

Help, I am fading away!

       I was trying to get a family picture to send to my son yesterday.  Out of 5 pictures 3 of them have me transparent!  Fading away.  You can see the plant behind me through me.  Yikes. 

    Now if I was superstitious I would see this as a premonition of doom.  Should I be making my last will and testiment out?  By breaking the tradition and not having a turkey dinner last night did I give some message I don't care enough to stay alive! 

   OK, I am not freaking out here, but notice it is only me who is fading.  In every picture it was only me.  Even the one where I am in front, it was me.  Thank goodness I know Greg will look at this and give me a logical reason in scientific photography terms for why I am fading away to a little bit of nothing!  Help Greg, save me!

   Last night at work was as expected.  We got you usual congested heart failures and 2 heart attacks.   It was a busy night.  I also had to be charge so that kept me hopping.  I was smart this time and took the sickest hearts patients as my patients so I didn't have anyone new worried about them all night and asking me a thousand questions.   I really don't mind asking questions but when we are busy it is sometimes just easier to do it myself.  Our new nurses are getting more self assured and feeling stronger with their nursing skills.  They are a good group and I think they are going to be some great nurses.  Hope we don't train them all just to have them leave again for a day job.  That happens so often.  Why does everyone want days?  Why does everyone want a life! LOL

    We had chicken at my MIL's last night.  It was really good but the sweet potato and apple stuffing was disappointing.  She also made a really great pumpkin pie.  85 and she still makes the best pies.  Not of mydiet but I bet I got extra points yesterday for the 12 hours of running I did this morning.  The holidays are tuff but I have no left overs to tempt me and for supper at work I had a weight watchers turkey dinner, so see, I did have turkey.  Wasn't quite the same.

   Did everyone brave the mobs to go shopping today?  I have never, will never, could never imagine every wanting to ever, go out on Black Friday.  From what I can see the sales weren't that good this year anyway.  I hate crowds.  Hope everyone who went had a blast though.

  Well, have to get ready for work before I fade away.  Why can't it just be my thighs, or my budda belly that is fading away, why the whole me, why!

  P.S.  My sister had another earthquake in Hawaii plus a tsunami this week. Scary.  I would be thinking about finding me another piece of paradise to move too!

            Ok, one holiday done, onward to the next!

      

Happy Thanksgiving

MAY YOUR STUFFING BE TASTY, MAY YOUR TURKEY BE PLUMP.
MAY YOUR POTATOES 'N GRAVY HAVE NARY A LUMP,
MAY YOUR YAMS BE DELICIOUS,
MAY YOUR PIES TAKE THE PRIZE,
MAY YOUR THANKSGIVING DINNER,
STAY OFF YOUR THIGHS.
Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving to all my J-land friends. May your travels be safe and your meal be satisfying. May your families all get along for a day. And I know everyone is thinking of what we are thankful for today.

Although we are not doing a traditional Thanksgiving dinner this year I have much to be thankful for. I am working tonight and thankful I have a job to go to when many don't.

I am thankful to have the skills to be able to help someone today. They are probably thankful I have those skills also, LOL.

I am thankful for my health as it is so much better then it was.

I am thankful for my family and their health.

I am thankful for our soldiers keeping us safe and protecting our way of life. May they have a safe halo around them all.

I am thankful to be able to come on-line and get reassured that basically people all over are decent and have the same hopes and fears as me. Sometimes when you read the news you wonder.

Now for some medical advice. Thanksgiving is traditionally a busy night at the hospital. People who need water pills don't take them today so they can travel. They eat their entire days worth of salt in one sitting and then come visit me. Armchair warriors eat a nice big meal, watch an exciting football came with friends and family, get all worked up and start having chest pain, and come see me. Or fight with family, get all stressed out and have chest pain and come see me. So take care everyone. Take the meds you need, enjoy everything in moderation and bite your tonque with the annoying relative. And most of all, Have a Happy Thanksgiving. Its not that I don't want to see you, but lets do it another day, OK?

Whey Low

   Whey Low is a sugar substitute, all natural.  Some health food stores are starting to sell it, but I get it on line.  They make a brown sugar also.  I like it as it really tastes like sugar.  No afterflavor.  Less calories then slenda and they have one especially for diabetics.  I am not a diabetic but both my parents were by my age so I am trying to prevent it.Natural Sugar Substitute, Whey Low, Tastes Just Like Sugar

   I first heard of Whey low on the South Beach diet.  They really watch the sugar on that diet.  How is everyone's cooking coming?  Everyones meals sound wonderful.

Public again.

   I went public again.  I never really write any private things and decided I just got weirded out reading some of the comments on that one blog.  Wishy washy thats me! 

    It is suppose to be 60 out today and I am nagging my husband to go for a ride with me.  If he won't I will probably go by myself.  I want to exercise.  I have been really good on plan again and reading Linda's journal is so inspiring.  Makes me want to stay good. 

    Tomorrow we are having chicken at my MIL's.  Rick and I are making a sweet potato casserole so I can skinny it up with Whey Low.  I turned my Aunt onto a sample and her and her husband really went crazy for it.  They had been using splenda but say they will never eat that again.  Since they both weigh in at around 300 guessing it will help. 

  Being overweight really runs in my family. He has all the problems that go with being extremely obese, High blood pressure, diabetic, bad kidneys, uses a scooter because his knees won't hold him.  My Aunt does better but not much better.  I really worry about her and she really feels there is nothing she can do about it.  She says she can't lose weight like me and exercise......Oh yes she can.  I told her to just try and lose 5 pounds at a time.  If you focus on losing 100 or more it seems over whelming.  But 5 pounds, yah I can do that, and do it again, and do it again.  Before you know it 40 pounds, 50 pounds, gone.

  Well, time to increase my nagging for the ride.  I want to ride my bicycle!

Warning Another Senior scam

  I don't know if my MIL got on some type of list or what but she was targeted for another scam I want to warn people about.  My MIL is a Notch baby and there is a scam going around asking you to support legislation to get the notch bill passed.  It is signed by your local congressman and looks very legit.  Promises you either $5000 cash or a bigger social security check.  They ask you to send in all this personal identification like social security numbers, birth certificates, etc.......  They get your money and steal your identity.  The thing is a scam.MiSeniors.net -   Committee on Ways and Means, Subcommittee on Social Security, 7-26-01 Testimony 

       My MIL is 85 so if you have a relative that age check to see if they got this mailing.   We had told her to throw it away when she first got it but found out last night she was still holding onto it and talked about it to my gullible BIL.  You would think they would both know by now, if it sounds to good to be true, it probably is.

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   Disturbing thing number 2. The scuttlebutt circulating in Washington, DC is that Florida Rep. Alcee Hastings may become the next chairman of the House of Representative's Intelligence Committee.  Why is this disturbing? In 1989, Judge Hastings was impeached by the US House of Representatives for bribery and perjury. The Democratic-controlled Senate convicted Hastings of accepting a $150,000 bribe in 1981 in exchange for a lenient sentence and of perjury in his testimony about the case. Hastings said the charges against him smacked of racism.

He distinguished himself by being only the sixth Judge in US history to be removed from office by the USSenate. So damning was the evidence against him that Rep. John Conyers (D-MI), a founding member of the CBC, favored impeaching him.

Conyers, who is also black, said he "found no trace of racism during the investigation." He urged his colleagues to remove Hastings from the bench. He said, "[Hastings] is unfit to serve."

An editorial in South Florida Sun-Sentinel denounced Rep. Hastings with this tidbit: “Personal and political paybacks are the first order of business for Hastings.”

The biting editorial resulted from Hastings putting his girlfriend, a disgraced former lawyer who was disbarred by the Florida Supreme Court for “multiple offenses,” on the public payroll as his “office liaison and staff assistant.”

According to the Sentinel, Alcee Hastings owed her “more than $500,000 in legal fees for representing him during his 1983 bribery trial and his 1989 impeachment hearings before Congress.” Alcee Hastings continues to employ her as his scheduling assistant, paying her more money than even his chief of staff gets, causing another reporter to comment, "She must be some scheduler."

And Rep.Hastings treated his scheduler Vanessa Griddine to many perks. For instance, he spent over $14,000 on a taxpayer-paid trip to Belgium. Almost $3000 of this was listed as per diem expenses for the lucky couple and 11,400 was spent on what must have been a marvelous flight across the pond.

   One has to wonder why House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is now in favor of instating this judge with his history of taking bribes in such a High security position.  Things are getting even scarier then I had feared.

         Yah I know, I said I wasn't going to discuss politics on this blog again but as someone reminded me, It is my journal! Thanks.  And doesn't this disturb you also?

Yes, this is a Christmas Poem, But..................

   I decided to share it now because I am so thankful for our soldiers on the front lines and behind protecting us all.

_________________________________________________

                

A Different Christmas Poem

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.
Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.
The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.
My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.

The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know, Then the
sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.
My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.
Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.

A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.
"What are you doing?" I asked without fear,
"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"

For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts..
To the window that danced with a warm fire's light
Then he sighed and he said "Its really all right,
I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night." "It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,
That separates you from the darkest of times.
No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.
My Gramps died at 'Pearl on a day in December,"
Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers."
My dad stood his watch in the jungles of 'Nam',
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.
I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.

Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white, and blue... an American flag.
I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home.
I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.
I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother..
Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall."

"So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."
"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
"Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your son."
Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
"Just tell us you love us, and never forget.
To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.
For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled.
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us."

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   Please feel free to copy and share this as I was encouraged to share it with you all.  Happy Thanksgiving.

Great News, No More Hungry In the USA!

                         

  Its true, I just heard it on the news.  According to our Government we have no more hungry, just people with food insecurities!  Great, lets get them all a shrink to eat for breakfast.  Sheesh..............................

                   

   Another thing I heard on the news, (its been an interesting day),  since chocolate it now good for your heart, ( I am still loving that one), how about chocolate covered aspirin!  I would remember to take my daily aspirin.

              

   Finally heard from the nurse.  Good news is my husbands lab is all great, thyroid, PSA, counts.......good.  Why he is so tired?  Who knows.  Of course the little bitch that is me sometimes likes to tell him its because he doesn't work, LOL.   But actually I have gotten used to that.  We haven't heard about the appointment with the new Doctor yet.  Also they never addressed the bradycardia.  Now that could be making him tired but that is pretty new.

                         

    Today we are going shopping again looking for the Dora Talking Playhouse.  Would you believe we have no toy store in this town!  I have to go to K-Mart or Walmart.  I am boycotting Target still so can't go there.  I also want to hit the nursing uniform shop and see if they have any CNA gifts for my DIL.  I want this Christmas shopping to be done with.  But I slept like a baby and feel raring to go.

                

   Found a really good recipe if you like balsamic vinegar, I do, and it is low cal.  4 WW points, good thing.  I love all recipe.  Make sure you read the reviews because they tell how they improved the recipe alot of times.  I am having it for supper tonight.Braised Balsamic Chicken - Allrecipes

                  

   After my meditations this morning I did some yoga stretches and sit ups.  Since we will be doing alot of walking today in Malls which really kills my back, will hold off on the gym once more but we plan a long 5 mile walk along the river today.

                      

   Another tip I heard which makes sense.  Drinking a cold beverage with your meal is a bad idea.  The Chinese drink a hot tea to aid in digestion.  The theory is cold liquid solidifies the fats in the meal making it harder to digest.  It sits there longer making us more prone to colon cancer which is almost unheard of in China.  This actually does sound plausible, I tend to take all these claims with a grain of salt since look! chocolate turned out to be good for you, but I did switch my ice water with hot tea after my meal yesterday.  I figure since my gall bladder surgery things are not working properly all ready and anything to help.  Think though of what happens when you put cold water in a fry pan with oil in it, it turns white, thick and solid, Yik.

                            

   Sad thing.  When we were getting ready to leave yesterday found a young cat, still almost a kitten in the front yard.  Eyes running and sneezing, bone thin.  People are always dumping their pets in the woods when they get tired of them telling themselves they will do just fine eating mice and birds.  They don't.  The average life span of a stray cat is 2 years!  Not good years either.  They always seem to find my house.  I am good for a meal and sometimes if they are healthy enough and not to ferile I find them a home.  I made a hot stew for the kitten which it gratefully ate.  No I did not take it to the vets.  Last time it cost me $260 and I don't have it right now.  I could take it to the pound, but know it would be put to sleep.  So I feed it and will feed it again if it shows up again.  I hate it when people do that.  Get your animals fixed!

            

               

Jokes

                                  Spud Snub

THERE ONCE was an Irish potato that fell in love with an Idaho potato. They married, put down roots and had a little sweet potato.

The sweet potato grew up and fell in love with a newscaster. She wanted to marry him, but her parents objected because they didn't want any daughter of theirs marrying a common tater!

         

             

              Turkey, Turkey Everywhere

THE TURKEY shot out of the oven
    and rocketed into the air.                          
It knocked every plate off the table
    and partly demolished a chair.
It ricocheted into a corner
    and burst with a deafening boom,
Then splattered all over the kitchen,
    completely obscuring the room.
It stuck to the walls and the windows,
    it totally coated the floor.
There was turkey attached to the ceiling
    where there’d never been turkey before.
It blanketed every appliance,
    It smeared every saucer and bowl.
There wasn’t a way I could stop it,
    that turkey was out of control.
I scraped and scrubbed with displeasure,
    and thought with chagrin as I mopped,
That I’d never again stuff a turkey
    with popcorn that hadn’t been popped.

        

                  Bear with Us

A YOUNG FELLOW was bragging to his buddy about his hunting skills. Just as they arrived at their cabin, he said, “You get the fire started, and I’ll go get us something for supper.”

He walked a few minutes and met a bear. He immediately dropped everything he was carrying and ran back to the cabin as fast as he could, with the bear right at his heels.

Just as he reached the cabin, he slipped and fell. The bear was going too fast to stop and skidded right through the open cabin door.

The young fellow got up, closed the door and shouted to his buddy from the outside, “You skin that one, and I’ll go get us another.”

         

 

                 Needs Better Directions

DURING THE EARLY DAYS of the Model T Ford, a salesman was traveling through the mountains of eastern Kentucky. The roads were narrow and not maintained very well. The salesman soon realized he was lost, so he stopped an old mountaineer along the road and asked, “How do you get to Louisville from here?”

The mountaineer replied, “Most of the time my son-in-law takes me.”

          

 

 

Q: What did Summer say to Spring?

A: Help, I’m going to Fall!

 

 

       

                         Now Let Us Play

TOO THRIFTY? To save money, a mother of seven children frequently shopped at a bakery thrift store. She didn’t realize the impression she was making on her children until she overheard one reciting a prayer, saying, “Give us this day our day-old bread.”

GRAND FINALE. After saying bedtime prayers, little Sam asked what “Amen” meant. His mother explained it meant they were all finished. The next morning, he brushed his teeth, put down the toothbrush and said “Amen.”

BE THANKFUL. Timmy wasn’t a fan of the dinner his mother set in front of him. Before she let him begin to eat, she reminded him to say grace. “Dear God,” began Timmy, “please don’t make me eat this.”

       

 

                Brand Him a Greenhorn

AN EASTERNER had always dreamed of owning a cattle ranch and finally saved enough money to buy the spread of his dreams in Wyoming.

“So what did you name the ranch?” asked a friend when he came to visit.

“We had a hard time,” admitted the novice rancher. “My wife and I couldn’t agree on a name. But we finally settled on the Double R Lazy Triple Horseshoe Bar-7 Lucky Diamond Ranch.”

“Wow!” exclaimed his impressed friend. “So where are all the cattle?”

“None survived the branding.” 

                        

                           Nite Nite all.