There's something I just don't get about this place. Everywhere that I've gone and brought my canvas grocery bags, the people insist on putting my stuff in THEIR bags first. I shop at a SuperFresh grocery store here. At first glance, you'd think this was a very progressive, earth-friendly grocery store- after all: they sell their reusable bags at the counter, and have signs offering rebates for re-using bags. Every SINGLE time I've gone, I've brought my own canvas totes, and let the checker know. Without fail, every single time, they've used their plastic grocery bags instead. I don't get it.
Today was even more of a kicker. I went to Target.. bought a LOT of stuff. And bought 2 more of their large canvas bags. The checker not only put everything in plastic Target bags, he threw the canvas bags *into* a plastic grocery bag.
Why oh why?! I just don't get it!
1st night off orientation. (I've only had 2 days- but really one). Last night was uneventful, and for that I'm so thankful. I thank god, santa, the inventor of seroquel... anyone - everyone! Off to bed so I can do it all over again tonight. I truly hope it remains status quo.
naps. are. delicious.
(but is it really a nap if you only slept 4 hours- or is it simply going back to bed?)
It is loud & bright outside.
I need to go back to sleep.
I'm in need of sleep
so I can work all night.
And my water tastes awful.
And there's neverending sirens.
-- I'm too cranky.
Dear Baltimore:
Everywhere I go, your water tastes awful. Can you do something about that?
Trying to stay up late, but not doing a very good job at it. Tomorrow is my 1st night shift- 2nd day on the floor. I don't know - not really sure that 2 days will cover it considering EVERYTHING is done by paper! I thought the hospital I came from was primitive with their paper charting - Oh, I just had no idea. Like everything is paper here - and a lot of it is still with carbon duplicates! Holy wow, I have traveled back 20 years in time. They even make credit card things for the patient - to "stamp" the forms... I remember those vaguely as a little kid! Put me in front of a computer & I'll find my way. All these crazy forms kept in all these crazy binders, & I'm not feelin' so confident.
I pray it goes well - my 1st day of orientation I really don't feel like I learned shit. And I've got exactly ONE day of orientation left... and they're making me play charge, and working the code team!?!?
35 muthafucking more shifts.
They can call it whatever they want - but this is a damn psych ward that I'm working on.
(A psych ward with a seriously tight budget!)
Without saying his name, I just thought it was kinda funny, there is a dude on the unit that, for the first 30 minutes of my day, I swear, I thought they were calling him Mr. Gobshite!
Wore my new hoodie today - I needed another hoodie like I need another hole in my head... um, yeah, couldja please pass the drill?
35 more shifts to go.
Drove back from BFE to BWI today. My butt is so tired of sitting! Start my job in the morning. Pretty much hella nervous...
I need to leave the house by 0615. Suck. I'll be better at nights, I think. With this being a locked unit - I still have no swipe card - I'm not exactly 100% sure how to get in there!
I pray it'll be a good day.
PS. Somehow I feel a sense of accomplishment that I've driven > 1000 miles this weekend and remained ticket-free! (Knocking the hell outta some wood!) I've had (I think) 5 speeding tickets. I really don't need or want another. (Even though I will admit, I pretty much broke every speed limit tonight!)
I had a bit of a micro-meltdown/ identity crisis when in BFE. Felt a bit like a stranger/guest in my own home. Living out of suitcases is suckity-boo. I kept cleaning saying how I want to be able to come back to a clean house.. It was deja vu- exactly what I did before I left my apartment here!
It occurred to me that I had 2 jobs, and 2 homes, both in 2 different states. And that whole thought was just a little overwhelming!
Pearl of wisdom: Spending the extra money on the expensive winshield wipers is SO worth it!
It's been too long since I've blogged. I feel out of touch with my own world if I haven't written about it! Strange introspection there, but I guess it's true. I had brought a spiral-bound notebook with me to Baltimore, with the intention of writing in it every day. I wrote a half of an entry. Yes a half. I was too tired to continue after about a paragraph. Then... I don't know. I guess I got caught up in my new world.
I like Baltimore. I've had prejudices about the city forever. Probably because the only time I was ever there, I was like 3 and spent time in the ER. I tell people I almost died there. Whether or not that's true, it was true in my 3-yr old mind. I vividly remember two things about Baltimore: 1) Waking up on a gurney and screaming while they were trying to repeatedly poke me to find a vein. and 2) Throwing up Apple Jacks cereal in the rental car... ick. To this DAY, I won't touch Apple Jacks. And I also have an uneasy feeling every time I'm in a car with red interior. Seriously.
Friday marked 1 week that I've been there. I got in late Friday evening, and spent Saturday & Sunday exploring my neighborhood a bit. I live right behind Baltimore Street, which I learned from my cable-guy is "the Block". There's even a Larry Flynt Hustler Club there. In the same area is the local courthouse, and police HQ. *shrug* I don't feel unsafe, but I'm not hanging out outside, either... there's a lot of shady stuff that goes on there. Hold the purse tight, and walk with a purpose, ya know?
I'm about 5 blocks or so from the Harbor. And my hospital is another 2 blocks away from that. I walked to work every day this past week... and have loved every minute of it! (It would take just as long to drive as it would to walk, so my truck is sitting in the Valet garage). Notsomuch sure how I'm gonna handle that when it REALLY gets cold... I don't know what this California girl is gonna do when there's actually several inches of snow on the ground!! But I hope I'll continue to walk.. I enjoy it. Headpones in, and listen to heavy music along the route.
I bought myself a big knee-length down parka the day after I moved in, because I quickly realized that my wimpy jacket would NEVER do! Today, I bought myself some boots.. two pairs. One galoshes, and the other a suede/shearling boot. I was kicking my butt for buying myself things when I'm still waiting to get paid from Piedmont, but the way I see it, these things will pretty much be necessities if I am to continue to walk through the coldest points of the year!
Yes, still waiting to get paid. I went PRN at my local (SC) hospital. And when you go PRN, they are supposed to cash out your PTO. Well, I've got over 160 hours in my bank, and I'm still waiting to see that money. ::Groan:: I could REALLLY use it about now, Piedmont. And it's MINE! I earned it! Somehow I see them trying to screw me out of them.
::change of subject before i cry::
The drive from Baltimore to BFE... it's long. About 8.5 hrs long. My butt hurt from sitting that much! I wish my stereo played mp3's, because ((xm)) just isn't cutting it these days. I've said it before, but it bears repeating- ((xm)) has pretty much sucked ever since they got rid of the punk channel! I don't think it's coming back... I did some reading, and one of the stipulations of the xm/sirius merger was to create a bunch of "minority" programming. I guess their way of freeing up and making room for that was to delete what's perceived as "skinhead" music. ::eyeroll::. I really may cancel the service.. it's just not enjoyable like it used to be. And at home I listen to internet radio over the xm, so what good is it? (especially when most days my truck is sitting in the garage!)
I love that I have a great (nosy) neighbor! I checked in with her before I left. Last night when I came home, it was late... and first thing this morning, my neighbor called me to say, "You're back!! Is everything ok? Are you staying home?" <333 Southern nosy neighbors give an increased feeling of safety when you're leaving your place all alone and vulnerable. My security alarm is great, but a nosy neighbor is icing on that cake! :D
Ok, i think I'm done for now. I took a lot of pictures & video... was planning on vlogging, but I accidentally deleted a BUNCH of shit off my SD card. I do have some pictures on my laptop. Will upload later. May try to scrape a vlog out of it eventually... but for now this is it. I've written.. and I feel more at peace.
So, I had been wanting to journal this new journey
- and all I could think was "39 shifts."
Seriously - that's kinda my thoughts on this travel business-
you go somewhere new to work, show up 39 times,
then go somewhere new & start all over again!
You are a Bette -- "I must be strong"
Me: bleh.. I need Immodium AND tampons!
Mom: Didn't I ever tell you there'd be days like this?
Me: (pouting) No.
Mom: Hahah..well that's cuz I didn't want you to commit suicide!
Me: Don't make me laugh! I'll shit my pants!
(The n00b & me)I don't need a holiday to remind myself to be thankful. For the past several months, I've tried to make a point to blog about the "little" things I'm thankful for - because I've always said it's the little things that matter. (Check my "Thankful" labels if you wanna see 'em).
Big things today, though.
One thing I'm thankful for: My Family. I'm going in today to work for one of my friends who lost her mother a few months back. She was heartbroken that she may miss Thanksgiving dinner with her family, so I offered to cover for her this afternoon/evening. Yes, that means me missing Thanksgiving dinner with my family, but I'm ok with that. Heading up to the beach Saturday, where I'll meet up with Mom, Dad, Sis, & Cuñado. And as much as I would like to be with my family today, I love that I can help facilitate a friend being with hers.
Me: I can't wait to see you!
KC: I can't wait for you to see me, too!
So I was having some forms notarized today for the new job. Since it's a travel assignment, I'm doing everything long-distance. Most everything is faxed back & forth.. some originals are sent though. I go and have my I-9 with my DL & Soc Sec card notarized. Then she faxes the docs to my company. I go to pay for the service, and whip out my credit card... she says, "Ok, you're paying by credit card? Can I see some ID?" Um... anyone else see the irony in that shit?? Just wondering.
It's not just an ironic Amy Winehouse hit song. Turned on the TV to veg out tonight, and found myself engrossed in part of an episode of Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew. I find it incredibly saddening to me - on so many different levels. I couldn't watch the episode in its entirety.
I watched one resident verbally abuse and demean a staff counselor. She was stoic through the entire interaction, then said, "You have a good night," without any surliness, and walked away. My heart ached for her in that instant. the abuse that care providers receive on a daily basis is unimaginable by anyone that hasn't been there. I've been kicked at, swung at, spit at, and yelled at more times than I could possibly count.
I'm not really sure where I'm going with this, because I've got so many thoughts firing around in my brain.
One: It saddens me how people's unacceptable behavior is completely accepted in a healthcare setting. Sick or not, defining limits is important. By not putting a stop to these behaviors, you are implicitly consenting that they are acceptable.
Two: Just once, I wish they would show the other side - the side residents/ patients don't see - the one wehre the caretaker says to a friend or family member, "I know he's sick, and I'm pretty sure it's not personal, but damn-it-to-hell, I am sick and tired of having crap flung at me like monkeys at the friggin' zoo!" Yeah, that's how it really goes. (Sometimes it's not that clean of language, though) We're not machines. We may hold it in for a while, but eventually a meltdown will occur in everyone.
Three: I have a friend that's a nurse who says that people should watch Celebrity Rehab - because it shows some of the gritty things that the public isn't aware of - cycles of abuse, stages of detox, etc. I see what she means, and on some level, I agree. Sad that it takes a washed-up celebrity to engage in reality TV to increase public awareness, but *shrug* who am I to complain?
Four: I have a friend that's a social worker here at the hospital. She sees so much, & cares so much. She fights for what is honest, humane & right. She fights red tape for people - and they have no idea the good she does for them. She is getting abused by the hospital.. by this system. The burnout of those who actually care is tragic in this field. She's wanting to leave. I will mourn the loss of her - she does more for my patients than they will ever know.
Five: Really a tangent on 4, but oh well. It's so sad to me that a social worker has to tell a doctor that he needs to tell his patients theat they are dying. Poor prognosis. Several weeks to live. He wants to put patient on expensive chemo. Tells the pt they'll be on "palliative chemo" with the possiblity of going to "curative chemo" next round. (All the while the charts say "poor prognosis") I don't understand why resources aren't better used keeping someone's last few weeks comfortable - rather than loading them up with expensive, painful, and futile treatments. Goes back to the whole fighting for what is right thing. Why must there always be battles? Maybe we need to include doctors & insurance companies in our multidisciplinary care meetings!
Fuck. Here I've gone and thrown myself on another rant. I'm not sure how I do this - but I do. It's one of my outlets. Rant over. Feeling better.
You can totally tell where it's been "vacuumed" and where it hasn't!
Every so often a car gets a tune-up. I guess today I got the medical equivalent. I feel like I've been poked and prodded from every angle today, and that's mostly because I have!!
I had my blood taken, had to pee in a cup, had my abdomen & chest palpated, and had my uterus scraped... and that was just on my FIRST appointment of the day!
Next I stopped at the tax assessors office. (That's just a virtual anal rape, but whatever!)
After that, I headed over to do my drug test for my new job. I didn't realize it, but I had to give both blood and urine. 3 vials of blood were drawn, and I peed in a cup once again!
Once I finished with my drug testing, I headed over to my primary physician for my physical so that I can get signed off for medical clearance at my new job. There I was poked & prodded some more. I had a PPD placed in my forearm by a girl that clearly had never done it before. Yet ANOTHER needle in me!
.. and then I headed to work! Went in and got my Flu shot. Then sat for nearly 4 hours showing that I'm competent on my skills. (They call it a "skills fair" but fairs are usually FUN things. This was anything BUT fun!)
Whatta day.
Millions of Americans experienced a strange phenomenon .. a strange rumbling in the ground, if you will. Expert seismologists have been unable to pinpoint the exact location, and effects have been felt worldwide. What was at first thought to have been a nationwide earthquake has finally been solved. ... It's the bodies of our racist, bigoted ancestors rolling in their graves! Congratulations, Barack on your victory! I look forward to January 20th even more, now!
Random church sign #336: Jesus is calling, will you answer
Sorry, Jesus. I don't pay for caller ID. I'm screening all my calls, because too many freaks have my phone number. Please leave a message, and I'll either pick up, or call you back. Thanks!
Thank goodness I found a bag of DumDums in my pantry. I don't think they expire. ::whew:: Without them, I probably would have been the crazy bitch in the neighborhood giving away raisins & cough drops, cause that's all I have. And I don't think parents would approve of me giving Ricola away as a candy.
Ok these church signs just crack me up. They're usually cheezy as can be, and they're always prominently displayed. I've never seen them anywhere else other than here in the bible belt.
Most recently: God answers Knee Mail
.. sorry, but that sounds kinda dirty, lol.
1. Cheesy/cool friends
2. Ballistic Brownies!!!
3. AMC movies from the early 30's
4. "Ugly 13" afghan
5. On-Call to sleep in when it's freezing
6. Caramel Highlights
7. Legwarmers
8. Little Sisters
9. Fond memories of being a spectator at my own college graduation
10. Having the clarity to have the IGDAF mindset when drama is amidst.
I took this picture at M&D's house 10/06. I call it "The Lone Golden Leaf"
311 is still around. I did *not* expect that after 2 days off she'd still be hanging on! And, of course, she's mine. One patient I had over the weekend expired early this morning... she's one I did NOT expect would pass. She gave up on living, the girls told me. She refused all treatments, and said goodbye to her family. I don't have a lot to say on her, because I hadn't seen her in the last 2 days. People can deteriorate quickly in my world.
But they don't get better quickly. 311 still isn't better. And she wakes from her sleep only when touched, to moan and cry. The night shift RN told me she'd scream "It HURTS" whenever she woke. Today, each time she woke, she would shout at me, words diffuse - garbled through her oxygen mask, and gurgling lungs, "I'm not going ANYWHERE!" I don't understand it. I broke down. Walked out of her room and the eyes welled up. I can NOT stand to watch the torture. I got the MD to order morphine for her. It's a small dose, but a dose nevertheless. Today I gave her Ativan and Morphine. All I can do is give her the prescribed treatments, and continue to show compassion. I honestly didn't think she'd make it through the day... and yet she continues with her shallow, gurgling respirations. Fiesty one, she is!
It was pretty much insanity on the floor all around. EVERYONE was so busy, they couldn't tell whether they were coming or going. I freely admit patient care suffered because of it. (I know none of us were able to give care and attention to our patients the way we like to!) And to top it off, we got 3 postpartum couplets to our floor today. (We're still nursing-home central right now.) Yes, our unit is truly a "Womb to Tomb" floor. Today showed the full spectrum. I had patients from 3 hours old, to 94 years old!
I was scheduled 7a-7p today. (Which really means 7a-7:30p). I clocked out at 10pm. ::ugh!:: It really was one of those days! I looked at the schedule for tomorrow, and *groan* they are beginning student rounds for the semester. I have two 1st semester nursing students assigned to me for the AM, and two more assigned to me for the afternoon. Their instructor came up and said they have *NO* patient care experience, and they have a high level of anxiety with dealing with patients. Holy Moley! Please let me not teach them bad habits, or do anything that might otherwise get me in a lot of hot water!) Two nursing students to one nurse is a LOT. Let's pray that tomorrow is not a repeat of today.
I told my manager today that I am serious in planning to leave/Go PRN. I'd tossed the ideas with her in the past.. so this isn't NEW per se, but it is the first time I sat her down, told her I've spoken with recruiters and have had offers. I appreciated her reaction. Some of the clinical crap is completely lost with her, but she is a respectable manager. I told her that I was going to put her name in for references, and to expect phone calls soon. (I thought I owed her the courtesy of telling her). I hope that I can stay PRN and pick up hours.
So today, prime examples of things I'll miss when I'm away...
- Dr. M: "Wow, you got your hair done! You look all sassed!"
- Me: (later in the day) "Dr. M, your wife must have you well-trained! Your first words to me was regarding a new haircolor. I've had it about a week, and you're the first that's mentioned it. She's got you VERY well-trained!"
- Dr. M: "Well, it's not that. It's just I've learned as a gynecologist, there's not a lot of things I can say to a woman that doesn't get construed for sexual harrassment. I mean, really, I can't exactly say 'Wow, your clitoral ring looks new!'
- Me: "Since when have you stopped to care about sexual harrassment?"
- Dr. M: (giggle, blushing) "True!"
- Dr. C: (looking for a tube to otoscope) "I found one behind the bin"
- Me: "Eew, that's old and filthy, and probably used!"
- Dr. C: (shrug)
- Me: "You mean to tell me that the infectious disease doctor is going to use a dirty used otoscope?! Do you at least want an alcohol pad for that!?"
- Dr. C: (scrubbing tube with alcohol pad) "No one has ever died from a
used otoscope!"
There are some people in this world you'll never be able to duplicate!!
That's enough for today. <33>
So I was talking with one of my online friends tonight (<3 Nikki) about some of the things I get frustrated with. There's a lot of pettiness that people make big deals out of. I'm kinda getting fed up with petty stuff. I'm needing to distance myself from any high school bullshit drama right now.
It's been feeling like nursing-home-central at work this past week. Yesterday I nearly cried; it was such a difficult day. Today, thankfully was a much better day, but I still had a rough crowd of patients.
I had 3 goals today:
1)Stay awake.
2)Don't Cry.
3)Keep 311 alive
till 7pm.
I was pretty successful in my goals.
I shed tears,
but they were tears of laughter.
So tired. Worn out. I was off 5 days, & today, my 1st day back, I almost didn't recognize the place! Several new policies in place, & our entire supply room has been redone. I don't know where anything is anymore!
Heard today that drug reps soon won't be able to give samples to MD's. Wow. I knew they were changing the laws to disallow sticky notes, pens, clocks & other branded gifts, but I had no idea that it was also no samples! This will change the way MD's operate in a huge way! And I guess that means no more free samples for us patients, either! Geesh, I was really getting spoiled by that - it's always sweet when your doctor slips you 6 months of birth control (that costs $40/mo) in a bag and sends you on your way!
There was a lot I wanted to talk abotu today -the alst couple days have been very busy, but I just am too tired. Can barely keep my eyes open.... kd.
1. Finding silly squirrels in the yard
2. Vanilla Mint Listerine
3. My homemade scarf
4. Ho heat/no air for a couple weeks now! (= perfect weather)
5. Purging (belongings. Believe me, I don't purge my food!)
6. Pillar candles that glowe once they've burned down
7. 5 day off-stretches
8. Bean sprout
9. My boobs.. I've got good boobs. There. I said it.
10 New lipstick in a good shade.
Welcome, October - my most favorite month, and the best time of the year! The weather is cooling down, and humidity is dropping. Leaves will begin to change their wardrobe soon. Forget spring, this is Mother Nature in action!
So, I've said for quite some time that I tend to make major life decisions in the fall. I know what I want to do, but fear is holding me back a bit. This is the time where I kick myself in the ass & get to it!
"Ships that stay in the harbor are safe, but that isn't what ships are for" ~ it was written on the board in Ms. Murray's 10th grade honors English class one day. It's stuck with me ever since.
Well, Oktoberfest was interesting. I drank too much and I'm mostly a little embarrassed by myself. Thankfully, it wasn't a scene like the lovely Y2K AT&T company holiday party. But it still wasn't pretty. Check out the video I've posted for some of what happened.
Not included, is me falling crashing into the bleachers while walking up out of the stadium. I know I'm already accident prone, but put a little too much alcohol in me, and dang.. it just makes it all the worse. I've got a few gnarly bruises from it. I'm tempted to take a pic, but then again, it wasn't but just a few weeks ago when I fell off the ladder... I just barely recovered from that ginormous monstrosity. (I still have a bit of what I'm calling a "bruise scar" there - faint light brown where the bruise was). People will begin to wonder about me! I swear, I'm not being beaten!
I seriously hope that all the alcohol I had will be a good antiseptic for any nasty saliva germs I exposed myself to.
If you look, you can see the reflection of the painting on the floor!
Let me preface this post by letting you know that I'm all in all a pretty tough chick. I kill spiders without batting an eyelash. And in my line of work, well, you know I'm surrounded by all kinds of excrements."If it's wet, and it's not yours, don't touch it" - Infection control rule of thumb.Sticking my hands in here makes me feel like I'm plunging my hands into uncharted, dangerous territory! I don't exacly have a pair of gloves that go elbow-high, so I have to fix it all unprotected! Thankfully I'm up to date on my shots, but what other un-inocculable kind of nasty is in here?! I've had bleach tablets in there, but it still is grody... years of abuse/ neglect.
i baked cinnamon rolls last night. From scratch... made my own dough and everything. There's something very primal about baking.. It involves all your senses, and creating something from virtually nothing is pretty amazing, when you think about it. Watching dough rise.. kneading it in your hands.. knowing that certain things can't be measured, but only "felt" - like how much flour you need, or whether things are ready. Anyone can follow a set of instructions, but to truly be in touch with what you're making - ah!
I've got some kind of flowers growing on a tree in my backyard. I'm not sure what they are, but they sure look like a hibiscus! It's so nice to see things blooming this late in the season... Summer's last hurrah!
"Ike sucks. He beats women, and takes all their gas" ~keri colleen.
1. Remembering to bring bags to the grocery store
(that always gives me a warm fuzzy feeling!)
2. Finding a beautiful old mirror at Habitat for Humanity
3. Discovering I can cook Tilapia really well
4. My gigglesnort. I'm not ashamed...
5. Hot Sauce
6. Pedicures
7. Pumpkin spice coffee
8. Having a productive day.
9. The awareness, during a bad dream, that it's just a dream *
10. Being away from work long enough to look forward to going back!
*Don't let the pic mislead you. I'm not thankful for the evil Skeksis. I fell asleep watching the Dark Crystal. Had strange, creepy dreams with the Skeksis in it! I'm just thankful that, as creepy as it was, I was aware at the time that it was just a dream.
I'm kinda proud of this video!
It's my first editing project... and it shows
some of the crap I've been dealing with while
trying to redo the bathroom! :)
...and now off to work...
It's like the exact same color as my Twitter page! Ha!It's weird. I have friends & coworkers the same ages as my baby cousins. And I guess by Baby, I mean younger - though I think our age gaps are shrinking through the years.
I remember when each of them were born. I've changed their diapers. I smiled as they botched my name (I was actually sullen when the oldest started pronouncing my name correctly!) *shrug* I've been at many soccer games, all their birthday parties, Christmas, Thanksgiving... I watched 'em grow up into the amazing fucked-up adults that they are! ~ (And I mean that with utmost love & respect - Hey I'm one too, ya know!)
Why is it, though, that these 2 are still babies to me, when I have friends their age I consider peers? *shrug* I love them wholeheartedly. unconditionally. i guess they'll always be babies to me?
Last night there was a Katydid outside my dining room window. He (she?) was still there when I got up this morning. ...And I'm on call, which is good since I really didn't get ANY sleep last night.
It's bright out
and the thermometer is
in the 90's.
But there's a grey haze
over everything - both
indoors & out.
And the spiders don't know
their boundaries.
A gem hides amidst a
sea of rocks, convincing
herself she's special, but
feeling like a useless pebble.
"Maybe someday I'll wash up
on the right shore,"
she says with a sigh.
I've got some really weird chi going on in my house, and things are getting more bizarre every day.
Today I found a few drops of blood on my white tile walls in my bathroom. I honestly don't remember cutting myself - and I'm pretty sure I'd remember. Plus, I'm sure I would've noticed it if it had been there a while... I mean really - blood on a white tile wall?!? It was right below the light switch, too - an area that definitely gets seen a lot.
I don't konw. You can call me crazy, but something's up, and there's a negative energy in my home. I picked up & straightened in my office, and it felt a lot better in there. ...Now I need to work on the house as a whole. Life is stressful enough... I need a comfortable haven with positive chi where I can relax.
I'm laying in bed as I write this. On my back.. ick. I'm totally a left-side sleeper, and I haven't been able to get good sleep for the past 5 days since I slipped & fell off the ladder. Still can't comfortably lay on my L side. I've got bruises on my forearm, shoulder, ribs, knee, and shins, but the granddaddy of them all is my damn left hip/thigh/ass. 
I'm not one for gratuitous butt shots, but geez. I thought I'd share a little thumbnail to give you an idea what I'm talking about! It is teh evil!
* Um. Most people will probably scratch their heads at "Waldo" & "Audrey 2". You probably don't want to know. But if'n you do ... you can learn about it here.
* It's almost obscene how many photos I have in my phone of things I've cooked!
* I don't feel bad staying home when I found out only 11 patients on the floor. They'd be calling someone off, anyway. Now, I'm sure it's me! Ha! (ps. rationalization there, in case you failed to notice.)
* 85% straight? Maybe 90. Def not 100.
Ok, well it's been entirely too long since my last random babble, & there's just been so much going on! So - preface this by saying it'll be random sputterings!
* It's a boy! Yay! I hadn't mentioned it before because she wanted to keep it under wraps, but yes, I'm gonna be an Auntie - due in Feb. Officially today found out it's a boy. I'm so flippin' excited! Bean, I can't wait to see you!!
* I fell off a ladder today (yesterday, technically now) & I'm all purple. My left thigh/ hip & knee. I feel my left wrist & right shoulder hurting, but don't see marks there, too.
-I'll take "Bad Ideas" for $100, Alex.
- Things you shouldn't do after the rain.
- What is, washing windows on a ladder on a slippery deck?
- Yes, you win $100 ... and a cookie!
So, between not feeling so hot, & just plaing being tired - I called out. I'd be useless @ work, and I'm not willing to risk someone's life for it.
Ok, so back to the windows - I get up the other morning to see this big ginormous spider smack dab in the center of my dining room window. (Outside, thank GOD)
Went to a friends to sit for her.
She set up a profile on her computer
just for me. When I logged on,
this was the wallpaper! :D
This gives me great joy.
So, I spent several hours this afternoon getting the taxes paid and registration done for my truck. Since I had to get new plates anyway, I decided to go ahead and get the "Nurses Care" plate. 
I may regret that decision.
Right after leaving the DMV with the new plate, I headed to get my oil changed. The tech at the shop asks me "How long you been a nurse?" I was like, I don't remember telling him I was a nurse... ah, the plates. *sigh* Well, I'm being polite making small talk, then getting back on my phone surfing the web.. The guy walks up to me, says, "I don't know if you can answer this or not, but can you look at this? [puts hand directly in my face] I've got some kind of rash on my hand, and it started as a small sore here, and now it's red and spreading all over my hand. Can you tell me what this could be?"
Ick. I told him that rashes really weren't my forte, and I couldn't tell him what it was. Seriously. Hadn't had my plate an hour, and I have someone asking me to identify their mystery rash!? If this is what I'm getting into by having a NURSE license plate, I may have it switched sooner rather than later!!
