I feel like I have just returned from war! I am beaten and battered, ears ringing and feet aching. The shift from hell. No the shift from the region beyond hell and I made it to the other side.
It all started during report. The night nurse tells me that of the five patients on is lucid all the others are nuts! During report, three calls were fielded from family and residents - yikes!
The entire shift was fielding phone calls, shipping patients to and from procedures, sorting out family drama, keeping patients dresses and in bed and cleaning poo and piss from here to eternity.
The particular unit I was working on had an unusual way of tracking one down. The unit secretary would SCREAM your name until you came to the desk )for call, physician or family member). So I heard my name screamed so much I was having flash backs to my childhood.
At one point I was called out of a room because a patients adult son needed a physicians note for work. HUH? So I get to page the intern who said, HUH. She was the sweetest little thing and she came right up and delt with crazy family member #7. I have seen her on the other floors and the intern is always so sweet and nice and her senior is a bit of a well, not so nice.
One of my crazy patients was convinced there were squirrels running through his room. He tried to throw his food at them so they would go away and stop trying to attack him - good times!
Another patient was convinced his foley was a snake swiming up his penis and he was determined to pull it out - good times!
My 93 year old demented female patient wanted someone to scratch her vagina because it itched ever so bad - scarry times!
It is days like that where I know somewhere along the way i have made some bad career choices. Oh well, I made it through 12 hours and missed like a ton of orders. No one died, nobody fell and I did not strangle the unit secretary - so all is well that ends well!
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Friday, August 20, 2010
5 months
My baby blog is 5 months old! Still too young to walk or go without a diaper but I have not killed it. Sure no one on Earth knows it exists, but that is okay. It gives me an avenue to express my thought or thoughts - who am I kidding, it is a place to bitch without giving my true identity! Sweet!!
Here is to however many more months I can tolerate this lame ass experiment! Cheers bitches!
Here is to however many more months I can tolerate this lame ass experiment! Cheers bitches!
8 and skate, but 4 is great...
Yesterday was a good shift! Scheduled for eight and sent home after four hours. I feel like a kid with a new bike whenever I get out of work early - who cares that is cost me about well never mind!
I was on one of the medical surgical floors. I a very good four hours. I went in with one angry lady as a patient. She was fuming because she was on her call bell and no one answered. The lady needed to pee and needed help to the pot. I immediately helped her and checked on her often and she became the sweetest thing. She would wanted to know someone was around when she needed them. Cannot blame her for that!
In fact, all the patients I had were very low acuity and very nice. I like surgical patients. I love the SICU especially, but medical surgical are okay. I think I like them because the majority have their surgery, get better and return back to their normal life. There is hope at the end of the process and that is a good thing. CVICU has the same thing happening. Patients have a bad ticker, get some new grafts and fell better - it just takes them a little longer.
I love seeing someone going from the worst possible to walking and feeling like they can recover all in a few days. It makes me feel like maybe I am doing something good!
I was on one of the medical surgical floors. I a very good four hours. I went in with one angry lady as a patient. She was fuming because she was on her call bell and no one answered. The lady needed to pee and needed help to the pot. I immediately helped her and checked on her often and she became the sweetest thing. She would wanted to know someone was around when she needed them. Cannot blame her for that!
In fact, all the patients I had were very low acuity and very nice. I like surgical patients. I love the SICU especially, but medical surgical are okay. I think I like them because the majority have their surgery, get better and return back to their normal life. There is hope at the end of the process and that is a good thing. CVICU has the same thing happening. Patients have a bad ticker, get some new grafts and fell better - it just takes them a little longer.
I love seeing someone going from the worst possible to walking and feeling like they can recover all in a few days. It makes me feel like maybe I am doing something good!
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Head Bashing 101
I follow a couple of nursing related threads and I am getting tired of them. Nurses, mainly female, are unhappy and inflexible creatures whe see things one way and one way only. I get so frustrated discussing anything with crusty old nurses.
I try to remain open and admit I love playing devils advocate - because I think it helps one see a different view. Hell no that ain't working with crusty nurses. it is this way and only this way. End of discussion. Even if you can produce a study to the contrary. "Don't believe it." "This is how we have always done it and this is THE correct way."
Pain rushes through my brain and I cannot take them anymore! When will they all die off and be replaced my a new generation with a tad more open mindedness (if that is even a real world).
It is like watching the fanatical religious zealots debate abortion, gay rights or the right to kill criminals - there can be no reasoning with crazies, but yet I try again and again.
Well no more! I am cutting my ties with those stubborn people in the nursing threads and I hope to never work with any of them for I fear they may take a nasty fall from a ninth story window - accidentally of course.
I try to remain open and admit I love playing devils advocate - because I think it helps one see a different view. Hell no that ain't working with crusty nurses. it is this way and only this way. End of discussion. Even if you can produce a study to the contrary. "Don't believe it." "This is how we have always done it and this is THE correct way."
Pain rushes through my brain and I cannot take them anymore! When will they all die off and be replaced my a new generation with a tad more open mindedness (if that is even a real world).
It is like watching the fanatical religious zealots debate abortion, gay rights or the right to kill criminals - there can be no reasoning with crazies, but yet I try again and again.
Well no more! I am cutting my ties with those stubborn people in the nursing threads and I hope to never work with any of them for I fear they may take a nasty fall from a ninth story window - accidentally of course.
The Vile Unit
There is a particular unit in the hospital that I hate working. Not just me, but every float nurse hates working. It is grimey, the nurses there are all former truck drivers or long shoreman and the aids are fat and particularly at playing hide and seek.
Anyway, I was (cursed) assigned to that wicked vile unit and decided instead on throwing my usual tantrum I would be the bigger person and accept my fate. I was determined to get through the day as best I could.
I arrive and ready myself for report. The nurse who is giving report is a particularly rough around the edges and very loud. I picture her giving report with a lit marlboro dangling from her lips. Yup, there will be no dainty nurses spotted on this unit!
The report started by her telling me there were no aids on the floor that night so she had to fend for herself with her three patients. So there were no baths given and no dressings done.
WTF?? Three measly patients and the lazy smoker cannot do one fucking bath? I know those lazy bitches sit arround most of the night eating and blathering at the mouth. I have worked nights and had way more than three patients by myself and was still bored out of my mind!
Anyway, sunshine goes on to tell me it is VERY important that a particular patient gets a bath this morning before returning to her nursing home. She goes on and on about how important it is. I am thinking if it was so damn important she should have done one during the 12 hours she worked.
I escape from her rotten breath and my ears are still ringing as I go meet my patients and begin assessing them. I hear her outside in the halls telling people how the woman needs a bath. C'mon go the fuck home already!
I am almost to the room that requires a STAT bath and I hear the loud one. She comes to my room to tell me that she bathed the patient. She stated she knows how time passes in the morning and she wanted to help out. No, she wanted to milk the fucking clock.
When I finally reach this patient she is a very alert elderly lady who goes on to tell me that the nurse had not been in to see her the whole night until she raced in to give a two minute bath. The woman was not happy and she went on to explain how she called her daughter to complain about being left alone all night and apparantly the daughter called rotten breath and that was why the bath was so important.
Upon leaving the room I see rotten breath still going on about how she has gone above and beyond her job staying late to care for this patient. All I want to do it hit her with the chart I was holding in my hand. The gall of that fat lazy heifer proclaiming herself as a super nurse for barely doing parts of her job!
This is a prime reason people hate this sorry ass unit!
Anyway, I was (cursed) assigned to that wicked vile unit and decided instead on throwing my usual tantrum I would be the bigger person and accept my fate. I was determined to get through the day as best I could.
I arrive and ready myself for report. The nurse who is giving report is a particularly rough around the edges and very loud. I picture her giving report with a lit marlboro dangling from her lips. Yup, there will be no dainty nurses spotted on this unit!
The report started by her telling me there were no aids on the floor that night so she had to fend for herself with her three patients. So there were no baths given and no dressings done.
WTF?? Three measly patients and the lazy smoker cannot do one fucking bath? I know those lazy bitches sit arround most of the night eating and blathering at the mouth. I have worked nights and had way more than three patients by myself and was still bored out of my mind!
Anyway, sunshine goes on to tell me it is VERY important that a particular patient gets a bath this morning before returning to her nursing home. She goes on and on about how important it is. I am thinking if it was so damn important she should have done one during the 12 hours she worked.
I escape from her rotten breath and my ears are still ringing as I go meet my patients and begin assessing them. I hear her outside in the halls telling people how the woman needs a bath. C'mon go the fuck home already!
I am almost to the room that requires a STAT bath and I hear the loud one. She comes to my room to tell me that she bathed the patient. She stated she knows how time passes in the morning and she wanted to help out. No, she wanted to milk the fucking clock.
When I finally reach this patient she is a very alert elderly lady who goes on to tell me that the nurse had not been in to see her the whole night until she raced in to give a two minute bath. The woman was not happy and she went on to explain how she called her daughter to complain about being left alone all night and apparantly the daughter called rotten breath and that was why the bath was so important.
Upon leaving the room I see rotten breath still going on about how she has gone above and beyond her job staying late to care for this patient. All I want to do it hit her with the chart I was holding in my hand. The gall of that fat lazy heifer proclaiming herself as a super nurse for barely doing parts of her job!
This is a prime reason people hate this sorry ass unit!
Should I stay or should I go now...
I am toying with the idea of accepting a travel assignment. I keep coming back to the idea of traveling as a way to escape the horrid working situation I find myself in currently.
The ups are that I can get out of here and just stay in a critical care area, preferably a CVICU.
The downs are that I would have to leave the house while it is on the market and that adds expense to ensure that it is being maintained. Plus, if it sells it would require coming back and coordinating the move as well as packing up some stuff and taking it with me.
Another down is that I would be many many hours from here and it would a considerable drive to return here for all the packing and such.
However, in September I will reach the point of no return. Meaning if I do not take an assignment by then I will not be able to take one after. Assignments are usually 13 weeks and I need to have to completed the assignment by no later than mid december to arrange the other move to my final destination.
I decided if there are no offers on the house by the end of this month I will submit for a few assignments. There are tons of assignments out there as prior companies are ringing my phone off of the hook.
So hopefully the next two weeks I have an indication on what to do.
The ups are that I can get out of here and just stay in a critical care area, preferably a CVICU.
The downs are that I would have to leave the house while it is on the market and that adds expense to ensure that it is being maintained. Plus, if it sells it would require coming back and coordinating the move as well as packing up some stuff and taking it with me.
Another down is that I would be many many hours from here and it would a considerable drive to return here for all the packing and such.
However, in September I will reach the point of no return. Meaning if I do not take an assignment by then I will not be able to take one after. Assignments are usually 13 weeks and I need to have to completed the assignment by no later than mid december to arrange the other move to my final destination.
I decided if there are no offers on the house by the end of this month I will submit for a few assignments. There are tons of assignments out there as prior companies are ringing my phone off of the hook.
So hopefully the next two weeks I have an indication on what to do.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Sunday, August 15, 2010
I smell ripe...
I off today and I did exactly nothing! I slept in, made coffee, ate some very bad meals and did not even bother to bathe. So now I am a sticky smelly mess and I am good with that.
See I am alone this week as me better half is off doing good deeds elsewhere. So, I am left to my own sloth-like devices.
What I should have done today includes cleaning the house, running, working out and maybe watering the droopy plants. If the plants survive I will tend to them in the morning and maybe even attempt to eat one healthy meal - but I doubt it.
Okay, here is the totally sick bit! I was craving something sweet and even contemplated getting in the car and driving to the market to buy ice cream or some other empty caloried treat. However, that would have required a bath and clean clothing, as if! I found a can of sweetend condensed milk and did what any other filthy sloth would do, I opened it at started eating it by the spoonful. After I consumed half of the can I decided to brew another pot of coffee and pretend it was an ingredient instead of a snack and sweetened my coffee with the second half of the can. Good Times!
I am not one of those people who thrive when left alone. If alone long enough I would most likely turn into a shut in who never bathed or trimed my tonails. I would close all the windows and blinds and become very pasty white and totally fat. I require another half to nag me into eating well and cleaning behind my ears and every so often exposing my skin to the sunlight.
I become far more productive with someone nearby. I find ways to avoid them and that is when I pick up a book, take a class or go for a good 10 mile run. Avoidance becomes my driving force.
So this day being an ode to all my manly dusgusting habits I shall embrace the few waning hours. Tommorrow I shall awaken, peel the sticking sheets off my filthy body and return to my healthy ways, or maybe I will break down and eat a carton of Ben & Jerrys.. I will see how I feel when I awaken.
Cheers!
See I am alone this week as me better half is off doing good deeds elsewhere. So, I am left to my own sloth-like devices.
What I should have done today includes cleaning the house, running, working out and maybe watering the droopy plants. If the plants survive I will tend to them in the morning and maybe even attempt to eat one healthy meal - but I doubt it.
Okay, here is the totally sick bit! I was craving something sweet and even contemplated getting in the car and driving to the market to buy ice cream or some other empty caloried treat. However, that would have required a bath and clean clothing, as if! I found a can of sweetend condensed milk and did what any other filthy sloth would do, I opened it at started eating it by the spoonful. After I consumed half of the can I decided to brew another pot of coffee and pretend it was an ingredient instead of a snack and sweetened my coffee with the second half of the can. Good Times!
I am not one of those people who thrive when left alone. If alone long enough I would most likely turn into a shut in who never bathed or trimed my tonails. I would close all the windows and blinds and become very pasty white and totally fat. I require another half to nag me into eating well and cleaning behind my ears and every so often exposing my skin to the sunlight.
I become far more productive with someone nearby. I find ways to avoid them and that is when I pick up a book, take a class or go for a good 10 mile run. Avoidance becomes my driving force.
So this day being an ode to all my manly dusgusting habits I shall embrace the few waning hours. Tommorrow I shall awaken, peel the sticking sheets off my filthy body and return to my healthy ways, or maybe I will break down and eat a carton of Ben & Jerrys.. I will see how I feel when I awaken.
Cheers!
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Royalty
A few days ago I was fortunate to work a stepdown unit that was blessed to have a princess as one of the patients. Yes, she was dear old thing who insisted that everything around her be just right. This included being bathed twice per day and always at shift change. Her meals were to be set aside for exactly 30 minutes and then immediately rewarmed and fed to her while her royal husband pointed out everything the staff did incorrectly.
Her highness graced us all with her lovely demeanor and shared her opinions at will. She so loved the minorities in the unit and would give them all special nicknames so they could feel her love. Her highness could not be bothered with such trite tasks like changing the channel on her television and would insist on having one of the servants (ie. nurses) come in to change the channels for her what her husband looked on with disapproval.
In fact the only think the royal one could do with any regularity was press the call button repeatedly. She had a beautiful voice and most of the times the staff could hear her loving voice as her call light was sometimes overlooked. She was unable to walk without the assistance of two staff members unless her requests were not met within an appropriate time frame and in those rare cases she was lifted from her bed like a feather and floated to the door to gently wave down a staff member as only she could.
Oh the joys of tending to the needs of her royal highness. Fluffing her pillow every twenty minutes, rubbing her feet with only warmed lotion and rearranging the cards on her windowsill so that the sun would not fade them throughout the day.
If only all our patients shared her pedigree and class, but I guess West Virginia does not have that many princesses in the state. It is a shame that she was transferred to a rehab facility. However, she should feel special in that every single staff member felt something very real as she was wheeled out of the building.
Her highness graced us all with her lovely demeanor and shared her opinions at will. She so loved the minorities in the unit and would give them all special nicknames so they could feel her love. Her highness could not be bothered with such trite tasks like changing the channel on her television and would insist on having one of the servants (ie. nurses) come in to change the channels for her what her husband looked on with disapproval.
In fact the only think the royal one could do with any regularity was press the call button repeatedly. She had a beautiful voice and most of the times the staff could hear her loving voice as her call light was sometimes overlooked. She was unable to walk without the assistance of two staff members unless her requests were not met within an appropriate time frame and in those rare cases she was lifted from her bed like a feather and floated to the door to gently wave down a staff member as only she could.
Oh the joys of tending to the needs of her royal highness. Fluffing her pillow every twenty minutes, rubbing her feet with only warmed lotion and rearranging the cards on her windowsill so that the sun would not fade them throughout the day.
If only all our patients shared her pedigree and class, but I guess West Virginia does not have that many princesses in the state. It is a shame that she was transferred to a rehab facility. However, she should feel special in that every single staff member felt something very real as she was wheeled out of the building.
Cooking experiment
So, once again there is next to nothing to eat in this house. I scour through the cabinets and found some old dusty cans of salmon. Agasint my better judgement I decided to make salmon patties.
I emptied the can of salmon into a bowl after straining (looks a lot like cat food). I picked out as many bones as I could and maybe a tail (wait salmon does not have tails). Crushed up a sleeve of saltines (the wheat ones) threw in three eggs and a handful of cooked brown rice (leftover). I cut some basil, chives and rosemary from my wee little garden and mushed it all together.
Cooked the patties up in a bit of cooking spray and smoked up the entire kitchen. The end result was not the most horrible thing in the world and the dogs loved it. I ate one with bread, tomato and tons of hot sauce, I froze the others.
I emptied the can of salmon into a bowl after straining (looks a lot like cat food). I picked out as many bones as I could and maybe a tail (wait salmon does not have tails). Crushed up a sleeve of saltines (the wheat ones) threw in three eggs and a handful of cooked brown rice (leftover). I cut some basil, chives and rosemary from my wee little garden and mushed it all together.
Cooked the patties up in a bit of cooking spray and smoked up the entire kitchen. The end result was not the most horrible thing in the world and the dogs loved it. I ate one with bread, tomato and tons of hot sauce, I froze the others.
Levels of care
yesterday was an uneventful shift, for the most part. Sure I had a slew of discharges, trouble with a dim-witted resident and a fat lazy social worker who made arrangements for a discharge and the family informed me of the details. But, nothing that caused me to throw a girl scout tantrum.
I have been all over this hospital as a float nurse and I am starting to see some differences. Not just differences in skill level or work load, but differences in which un its have the most fun people.
The cardiac critical care units (CVICU & CCU) have the most fun people. Everyone gets along with everyone and it is a great place to work and people are ever so friendly. I really enjoy my time in those units and I feel like I am home in a critical care environment. I really miss having a full time position in a critical care area.
The MICU is still with nice people, but not near as fun. They seemed more stressed and their patients are really not that interesting. This group also seems to "freak out" much more easily than their counterparts in the cardiac areas.
The stepdowns are so different from one another. There are three stepdowns and it goes from okay to wretched real quick. One area has been refurbished and people are nice, but dull. The second one is not refurbished and people are a little more rough around the edges but okay. The evil vile stepdown if where all the wicked nurses get dumped. It is like a unit of female truck drivers but with much worse language skills. I hate that unit and for the most part so does everyone else in the facility.
There are two med/surg areas I am sent to. One is a surgical floor where all the fresh post ops are placed (who are not monitored). People are nice, but the unit is a mess. Nothing works and never any supplies. There are these old computers in each room, but they have not worked for years and they do not bother to get rid of them. They require computer charting but most of the computers at the nurses station are broken as well. The few that do work usually have have one of the obese social workers camped out wasting space and getting cheetos crumbs all over the keys.
The regular med/surg area is not that bad. It is a nicely refurbished area and the majority of the patients are very low acuity and besides requests for food and pain meds it is a lo key area. The nurses are not very gifted in their overall knowledge base, but very nice. I imagine this is an area where nurses who just squeeked by in nursing school carve out a career.
The last area I end up is the rehab area. It is basically like a nursing home and I hate working that area. It reeks of piss and the patients are almost always total care and all incapable of controlling their bowels or bladders. There are techs on the floor but they play hide and seek all shift long. The staff vary from nice to semi-drunk, and one I am sure has some serious psychiatric issues.
If anything good came from this idea of working as a float nurse it is that I cannot wait to return to a full time critical care position. A nice fast paced surgical intensive care unit please with lots of belly surgeries and some open heart procedures please. I want swans and alines with loads of drips and strict visitation hours. Soon very soon!
I have been all over this hospital as a float nurse and I am starting to see some differences. Not just differences in skill level or work load, but differences in which un its have the most fun people.
The cardiac critical care units (CVICU & CCU) have the most fun people. Everyone gets along with everyone and it is a great place to work and people are ever so friendly. I really enjoy my time in those units and I feel like I am home in a critical care environment. I really miss having a full time position in a critical care area.
The MICU is still with nice people, but not near as fun. They seemed more stressed and their patients are really not that interesting. This group also seems to "freak out" much more easily than their counterparts in the cardiac areas.
The stepdowns are so different from one another. There are three stepdowns and it goes from okay to wretched real quick. One area has been refurbished and people are nice, but dull. The second one is not refurbished and people are a little more rough around the edges but okay. The evil vile stepdown if where all the wicked nurses get dumped. It is like a unit of female truck drivers but with much worse language skills. I hate that unit and for the most part so does everyone else in the facility.
There are two med/surg areas I am sent to. One is a surgical floor where all the fresh post ops are placed (who are not monitored). People are nice, but the unit is a mess. Nothing works and never any supplies. There are these old computers in each room, but they have not worked for years and they do not bother to get rid of them. They require computer charting but most of the computers at the nurses station are broken as well. The few that do work usually have have one of the obese social workers camped out wasting space and getting cheetos crumbs all over the keys.
The regular med/surg area is not that bad. It is a nicely refurbished area and the majority of the patients are very low acuity and besides requests for food and pain meds it is a lo key area. The nurses are not very gifted in their overall knowledge base, but very nice. I imagine this is an area where nurses who just squeeked by in nursing school carve out a career.
The last area I end up is the rehab area. It is basically like a nursing home and I hate working that area. It reeks of piss and the patients are almost always total care and all incapable of controlling their bowels or bladders. There are techs on the floor but they play hide and seek all shift long. The staff vary from nice to semi-drunk, and one I am sure has some serious psychiatric issues.
If anything good came from this idea of working as a float nurse it is that I cannot wait to return to a full time critical care position. A nice fast paced surgical intensive care unit please with lots of belly surgeries and some open heart procedures please. I want swans and alines with loads of drips and strict visitation hours. Soon very soon!
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Boxes and uhhhhhh
I had stupid run down to the spirits store and buy another box of wine. My liver must be drowning in cheap wine. i cannot imagine that to be a pleasant way to die, but it does provide a cheap buzz.
Now onto so you thing you can dance. Yum!
Ever notice that Kat chick cannot pronounce Rs. She calls Robert Wobbert. It makes me laugh!
Yikes!
okay, maybe I should lay off the boxed wine _ I am scheduled to work in the morning!
Now onto so you thing you can dance. Yum!
Ever notice that Kat chick cannot pronounce Rs. She calls Robert Wobbert. It makes me laugh!
Yikes!
okay, maybe I should lay off the boxed wine _ I am scheduled to work in the morning!
Smoke and Motor Oil
Yesterday, I had a hankering for some pizza! (see delicious pic below),,\
Anywho, what is pizza without a salad prior? However, we were out of salad dressing and wine - yikes!
This required a trip to the spirits store and some other store to locate salad dressing. The spirit store was fun and I discovered my local spirit store carried sweet tea vodka in lemon - score! But, we were there for wine and that is what was purchased.
Next was a stop by a little store I had never been in. When I entered I discovered I was in a store that could only exist in Pittsburgh. At the counter was a pasty white woman with fat flabby arms and a huge straw hat. She was smoking away as she rang up customers.
The store had some of the oddest combinations on shelfs that I had ever seen. An example was a section with mens "sexy briefs" next to jars of apple sauce??? WTF!!
The store had very little inventory of anything and the very back of the store was completely empty. We did locate some very off brands of salad dressing right next to cans of motor oil (of course) and we checked out, but not without giggling like school girls as we exited the smoke filled establishment.
Funny that the bar next door is smoke free but a store that also sells sandwiches has a human smokestack behind the register!!!
We walked to the pizza place and picked up a very yummy pizza and the evening was near perfect!
Anywho, what is pizza without a salad prior? However, we were out of salad dressing and wine - yikes!
This required a trip to the spirits store and some other store to locate salad dressing. The spirit store was fun and I discovered my local spirit store carried sweet tea vodka in lemon - score! But, we were there for wine and that is what was purchased.
Next was a stop by a little store I had never been in. When I entered I discovered I was in a store that could only exist in Pittsburgh. At the counter was a pasty white woman with fat flabby arms and a huge straw hat. She was smoking away as she rang up customers.
The store had some of the oddest combinations on shelfs that I had ever seen. An example was a section with mens "sexy briefs" next to jars of apple sauce??? WTF!!
The store had very little inventory of anything and the very back of the store was completely empty. We did locate some very off brands of salad dressing right next to cans of motor oil (of course) and we checked out, but not without giggling like school girls as we exited the smoke filled establishment.
Funny that the bar next door is smoke free but a store that also sells sandwiches has a human smokestack behind the register!!!
We walked to the pizza place and picked up a very yummy pizza and the evening was near perfect!
Too Damn Early
Morning shows are getting on me last nerve this morning!
Granted the Jet Blue flight attendant story is cute, but to see the doughy attendant skip from court to car with that dumbass smirk on his face is getting a bit old! Is his 15 minutes over yet?
Julia Roberts?? Huh? An entire movie of her shoving food in her face and getting physical with men half her age. I think I will pass! Have you seen her lately? Her face is looking like yikes! She is turning into a big ole hot mess!
Jennifer Anniston or however the hell you spell her name. How many hopeless flops can she make? Does she ever PASS on a film? The new flick smells a lot like the last J-LO flop! Please someone stop putting Jennifers in movies!! Enough bad acting!!
Sylvester Stallone? Okay, I give him a little credit for having one movie with so many has beens in it. However, one morning show wanted to put his wife and children on the show - hello breakfast? Please! The last thing I want to see while coffee is still fresh on my lips is some 60+ actors 3 year old child! Next!
Will Ferrell! Okay, who left on this planet still thinks he is funny. Maybe I should only ask those who have IQs above say 20. If a movie has Will Ferrell it is a safe bet to pass on that one!
Granted the Jet Blue flight attendant story is cute, but to see the doughy attendant skip from court to car with that dumbass smirk on his face is getting a bit old! Is his 15 minutes over yet?
Julia Roberts?? Huh? An entire movie of her shoving food in her face and getting physical with men half her age. I think I will pass! Have you seen her lately? Her face is looking like yikes! She is turning into a big ole hot mess!
Jennifer Anniston or however the hell you spell her name. How many hopeless flops can she make? Does she ever PASS on a film? The new flick smells a lot like the last J-LO flop! Please someone stop putting Jennifers in movies!! Enough bad acting!!
Sylvester Stallone? Okay, I give him a little credit for having one movie with so many has beens in it. However, one morning show wanted to put his wife and children on the show - hello breakfast? Please! The last thing I want to see while coffee is still fresh on my lips is some 60+ actors 3 year old child! Next!
Will Ferrell! Okay, who left on this planet still thinks he is funny. Maybe I should only ask those who have IQs above say 20. If a movie has Will Ferrell it is a safe bet to pass on that one!
On House Call??
This house will be the death of me! On the market two days and two showings, but nary a sign in the yard.
Tuesday, we were out to grab some lunch and do some much needed grocery shopping only to get called back to the house for a showing. We insisted that showings be by appointment only because we have two small dogs and do not want them to be at risk.
We rush home and fluff up a bit and when the realtor appears we head out the back with the dogs. The showing was quick and the feedback was very good. The house was too big for the buyers and there was a mention about the heat level of the third floor (we never go up there).
Yesterday, another last minute showing and we repeat the entire process of fluffing and making the house look wonderful. That was a longer showing and we have yet to get any feedback.
There are still many things to finish around the home. A few windows need replaced, the basement bath room is in process and the AC on the second floor is on the fritz. It never ends!
An offer on the home would make it all worth while! I am predicting that an offer will be received before September 1st. We will see!!
Tuesday, we were out to grab some lunch and do some much needed grocery shopping only to get called back to the house for a showing. We insisted that showings be by appointment only because we have two small dogs and do not want them to be at risk.
We rush home and fluff up a bit and when the realtor appears we head out the back with the dogs. The showing was quick and the feedback was very good. The house was too big for the buyers and there was a mention about the heat level of the third floor (we never go up there).
Yesterday, another last minute showing and we repeat the entire process of fluffing and making the house look wonderful. That was a longer showing and we have yet to get any feedback.
There are still many things to finish around the home. A few windows need replaced, the basement bath room is in process and the AC on the second floor is on the fritz. It never ends!
An offer on the home would make it all worth while! I am predicting that an offer will be received before September 1st. We will see!!
Monday, August 9, 2010
Did someone get the tag on that truck....
I think I have tire marks in my forehead! The nap hit me out of the blue. Oh my!
Work up this morning starving without a grain or morsel of food in the house and no way I was going shopping - yuckk! So I did the next best thing, I bitched and moaned to everyone I know about the fact I have no food in the house.
I could not workout or run because I would pass out from lack of energy.
So, I guess I had to pick up something to eat somewhere. Italian or better yet a hoagie. Yup hoagie was the food of choice.
I ordered a 13 incher and 6.5 incher with fried and guess what?? I ate every bit of it! The I was overcome with exhaustion! I napped for 4 hours! Wow, a 4 hour nap!
Now, I am awake and the day is officially wasted! I debate on heading to the wine and spirits shop, but understand if I go that will lead to wasting tomorrow as well. Maybe I should skip it! Resume my workout in the morning...yes that sounds better and yes I will drag my sorry ass down to the grocery store.
Work up this morning starving without a grain or morsel of food in the house and no way I was going shopping - yuckk! So I did the next best thing, I bitched and moaned to everyone I know about the fact I have no food in the house.
I could not workout or run because I would pass out from lack of energy.
So, I guess I had to pick up something to eat somewhere. Italian or better yet a hoagie. Yup hoagie was the food of choice.
I ordered a 13 incher and 6.5 incher with fried and guess what?? I ate every bit of it! The I was overcome with exhaustion! I napped for 4 hours! Wow, a 4 hour nap!
Now, I am awake and the day is officially wasted! I debate on heading to the wine and spirits shop, but understand if I go that will lead to wasting tomorrow as well. Maybe I should skip it! Resume my workout in the morning...yes that sounds better and yes I will drag my sorry ass down to the grocery store.
Friday, August 6, 2010
Observation...
The news is on and the story of family members waiting on the return of some Army Reservists who have been stationed in Afghanastan. Looking at the crowd waiting I notice it looks more like a weight watchers meeting. None of these people look like they have seen the inside of a gym ever!
Seriously they were all obese. I would expect some, but every damn one of them.
Oh well, this is America. Home of the whopper!
Seriously they were all obese. I would expect some, but every damn one of them.
Oh well, this is America. Home of the whopper!
Clean Kills...
lord! The vapors! I am chocking, gagging and I am not done yet! That is right, I am doing industrial cleaning in preperation for the home officially going on the market. I think I have Pine Sol poisoning! Call 911, but please life flight me to a hospital way outside this city!
There I was on my hands and knees whiping down the kitchen floor and all the dog fur scattered all over the floor. Damn these dogs shed a lot. Then I was outside scooping up the little presents the dogs left for me. It was like and easter egg hunt, but those were not eggs I was finding. Damn, these dogs poop a lot too.
Oh well, hopefully all these domestic chores will pay off in someone buying my home. I am already too tired to go for a run. I need a nap ot am just losing consciousness from the Pine Sol fumes...It is getting dark in here..Toto aunty Em...
There I was on my hands and knees whiping down the kitchen floor and all the dog fur scattered all over the floor. Damn these dogs shed a lot. Then I was outside scooping up the little presents the dogs left for me. It was like and easter egg hunt, but those were not eggs I was finding. Damn, these dogs poop a lot too.
Oh well, hopefully all these domestic chores will pay off in someone buying my home. I am already too tired to go for a run. I need a nap ot am just losing consciousness from the Pine Sol fumes...It is getting dark in here..Toto aunty Em...
Crackheads & Residents
Life as a float nurse. A dull moment here and there but at least you are always on the move. Also, you know when the assignments are made on the floor you are getting the patient the rest of the staff want nothing to do with - for real!
Yesterday, I was given crackheads in two different units. Crackheads can be amusing if you are not so busy to appreciate them. They tell stories about normal home lifes and about their hopes and dreams and seconds later they are screaming because the remote does not work! Good times!
I had a resident order 10mg IV Ativan for a 93 year old confused patient so she would be still for her MRI. I think at that dose she may have laid still for MUCH longer. But I also say physician orders are merely suggestions and sometimes we have to tweak them a bit so that the residents do not kill grandma and make the grandchildren cry come Christmas!
How many days do I have left?? Too many!!
Yesterday, I was given crackheads in two different units. Crackheads can be amusing if you are not so busy to appreciate them. They tell stories about normal home lifes and about their hopes and dreams and seconds later they are screaming because the remote does not work! Good times!
I had a resident order 10mg IV Ativan for a 93 year old confused patient so she would be still for her MRI. I think at that dose she may have laid still for MUCH longer. But I also say physician orders are merely suggestions and sometimes we have to tweak them a bit so that the residents do not kill grandma and make the grandchildren cry come Christmas!
How many days do I have left?? Too many!!
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
118 and counting!!
Wooo Hooo! 118 days and counting until I race to freedom! If I can only last that long! I am praying that my home sells early and I can skip out earlier.
Just under 17 weeks. Please hurry!
Just under 17 weeks. Please hurry!
Be a Duck
Work kicked my back side yesterday! Sometimes those 3p to 11p shifts can be as exhausting as the 12 hr shifts, but it does feel good to stop at only eight or so hours.
What made yesterday so draining was that I walked into a mess from hell and spent the first two hours making call and coordinating things for a discharge. It is not the first time I have had to come along and clean up a mess that should have been handled by others, but I got through it and in the end everything was wrapped in a nice tidy bow.
I did do one thing last evening that I am proud of. I held my tongue when the idiot house supervisor made a rude comment directed at me. I just ignored her! I was tired and I understand she is an idiot and who knows if she even knows better. I catch up with her once my notice is handed in - then I can be in a position not to hold back.
So home I came and did not even want a glass of wine. I just needed my cool pillows and my soft bed! Now I get to do it all over again.
What made yesterday so draining was that I walked into a mess from hell and spent the first two hours making call and coordinating things for a discharge. It is not the first time I have had to come along and clean up a mess that should have been handled by others, but I got through it and in the end everything was wrapped in a nice tidy bow.
I did do one thing last evening that I am proud of. I held my tongue when the idiot house supervisor made a rude comment directed at me. I just ignored her! I was tired and I understand she is an idiot and who knows if she even knows better. I catch up with her once my notice is handed in - then I can be in a position not to hold back.
So home I came and did not even want a glass of wine. I just needed my cool pillows and my soft bed! Now I get to do it all over again.
Monday, August 2, 2010
Box of Wine and Too Much Time..
It is 0038 and my butt is awake. I feel like I have not done a single thing all day long. I woke up, made coffee, went for a run, worked out, washed clothes, ate and ate again. Oh yea I also worked worked on a box of wine - don't ask!
I spent hour online chatting with friends, tweeting, blogging and then surfed apps on my phone. I watched clash of the Titans and watered plants. And I feel like the day has been wasted!
Happy Shark Week!!!
I have to work five of the next six days and I am dreading it. The next three are 3-11 and then off a day then bang out two 12s on the weekend. Good news is that I am off for 4 straight after that - sweet!
Tommorrow is a lite morning. I am going to run, tan, work out and eat a lite lunch then off to work.
I was depressed today. I tried on a pair of shorts I purchased at the end of last summer. last summer they fit me awesome - made my ass look amazing. This summer they are too tight! See what 20 extra pounds can do. So the month is boot camp. I am working out every day and eating only healthy foods (the exception is the wine). I am dropping 10-20 this month is it kills me! I will wear these shorts out before the summer waves goodbye.
I spent hour online chatting with friends, tweeting, blogging and then surfed apps on my phone. I watched clash of the Titans and watered plants. And I feel like the day has been wasted!
Happy Shark Week!!!
I have to work five of the next six days and I am dreading it. The next three are 3-11 and then off a day then bang out two 12s on the weekend. Good news is that I am off for 4 straight after that - sweet!
Tommorrow is a lite morning. I am going to run, tan, work out and eat a lite lunch then off to work.
I was depressed today. I tried on a pair of shorts I purchased at the end of last summer. last summer they fit me awesome - made my ass look amazing. This summer they are too tight! See what 20 extra pounds can do. So the month is boot camp. I am working out every day and eating only healthy foods (the exception is the wine). I am dropping 10-20 this month is it kills me! I will wear these shorts out before the summer waves goodbye.
On the clock...soon
okay, I am a posting whore today. What else do I have going on!
In a few days our home goes on the market. I am anxious and nervous all at the same time. The realtor believes the home will sell quickly, but I am a bit more skeptical!
When we placed a bid on this home four years ago it had only been on the market a few days and she stated it was a popular property. The location is perfect. The house is an easy walk to everything and a 5 minute bus ride to the center of downtown. Our walking score is 97 and that is pretty dang hard to beat.
However, we are priced a lot higher than what we bought the home for four years ago. Granted we pumped lots of money and sweat in fixing this home, but I can see so much more we could have done.
The problem was MONEY! We had all these dreams of what we could do to the home, but the Florida home stayed on the market 3.5 years and the money we paid in both mortgages prevented us from doing more here.
The realtor told us that within the first few weeks we should know if the home is priced correctly based on the number of showings. There are homes a few streets over that sold at higher prices, so maybe we are not that far off. Those homes had exposed brick walls which is something I really wanted to do but we just did not have the time to get to that.
Selling is such a horrid process as buyers have zero imagination!! I despise the selling process especially while I am still living in the property. The last two homes we owned we sold after we moved to our new home, but with this economy and the ordeal with the last home I am not buying another home until this one sells. If that means we have to rent when we move then so be it!
If the home sells quickly the best news possible is that I get to quit my horrible job and go on holiday early! I want to be on a beach with a drink in my hand while my skin roasts in the hot sun - dare to dream!!!
In a few days our home goes on the market. I am anxious and nervous all at the same time. The realtor believes the home will sell quickly, but I am a bit more skeptical!
When we placed a bid on this home four years ago it had only been on the market a few days and she stated it was a popular property. The location is perfect. The house is an easy walk to everything and a 5 minute bus ride to the center of downtown. Our walking score is 97 and that is pretty dang hard to beat.
However, we are priced a lot higher than what we bought the home for four years ago. Granted we pumped lots of money and sweat in fixing this home, but I can see so much more we could have done.
The problem was MONEY! We had all these dreams of what we could do to the home, but the Florida home stayed on the market 3.5 years and the money we paid in both mortgages prevented us from doing more here.
The realtor told us that within the first few weeks we should know if the home is priced correctly based on the number of showings. There are homes a few streets over that sold at higher prices, so maybe we are not that far off. Those homes had exposed brick walls which is something I really wanted to do but we just did not have the time to get to that.
Selling is such a horrid process as buyers have zero imagination!! I despise the selling process especially while I am still living in the property. The last two homes we owned we sold after we moved to our new home, but with this economy and the ordeal with the last home I am not buying another home until this one sells. If that means we have to rent when we move then so be it!
If the home sells quickly the best news possible is that I get to quit my horrible job and go on holiday early! I want to be on a beach with a drink in my hand while my skin roasts in the hot sun - dare to dream!!!
Bucket List
i am sitting here enjoying my morning coffee and watching the news (of course) with my sweet little dog snoring on the bed beside me. A report comes on about the recent Pittsburgh Triathelon and it causes my mind to race.
I am one of those people who have always wanted to run a marathon. i guess you could say it is on my 'bucket list'. i run now, but there is an enormous difference between my 3-5 miles a few times a week and 26.2 miles all at once.
I started running a smidge over a year ago and I remember being in Texas and there was this wonderful trail near where I was staying that was newly created for the locals to get in shape. It was clay/dirt and was 2.5 miles through all sorts of wooded area and close to all the medical centers in San Antonio.
My first run almost killed me and I literally had to stop and walk 10 or more times and it took about 30 minutes to finish. The next morning I was sore in areas I did not realise I could be sore! I pulled muscles in my groin! Ouch!
It took almost three months until I could finish the entire coarse. there were hills that killed me and the head was horrid. However, eventually I could finish the loop and started to work on improving my times! By the time I left I could finish the 2.5 miles in about 16 minutes, not exactly record speed.
I remember one guy (a little fellow) who would haul ass on that trail. He would lap me a few times before I could finish my one lap. I kept thinking as he blew past me that I could run for 50 years and never be as fast as he was or in as good of shape. It was then I lowered my standards. I thought don't expect to be like him, just be the best me I can be.
But still lurking in my mind is the marathon and maybe a mini-triathelon! Maybe I should go for a run today.
I am one of those people who have always wanted to run a marathon. i guess you could say it is on my 'bucket list'. i run now, but there is an enormous difference between my 3-5 miles a few times a week and 26.2 miles all at once.
I started running a smidge over a year ago and I remember being in Texas and there was this wonderful trail near where I was staying that was newly created for the locals to get in shape. It was clay/dirt and was 2.5 miles through all sorts of wooded area and close to all the medical centers in San Antonio.
My first run almost killed me and I literally had to stop and walk 10 or more times and it took about 30 minutes to finish. The next morning I was sore in areas I did not realise I could be sore! I pulled muscles in my groin! Ouch!
It took almost three months until I could finish the entire coarse. there were hills that killed me and the head was horrid. However, eventually I could finish the loop and started to work on improving my times! By the time I left I could finish the 2.5 miles in about 16 minutes, not exactly record speed.
I remember one guy (a little fellow) who would haul ass on that trail. He would lap me a few times before I could finish my one lap. I kept thinking as he blew past me that I could run for 50 years and never be as fast as he was or in as good of shape. It was then I lowered my standards. I thought don't expect to be like him, just be the best me I can be.
But still lurking in my mind is the marathon and maybe a mini-triathelon! Maybe I should go for a run today.
A growing concern
I have been watching far too much local news lately. I catch thirty minutes before work, check out the evening news and again watch one of the local news reports before watching the late show. I do not know why I have found the local news so interesting lately, but I have.
One thing that reallu stands out is the amount of murders going on in this city the last couple of months. The main issue with all these murders is that 99.9% of these homicides are being committed by young black men. Not a good sign!
This morning a story about a 15 year old black youth shooting and killing a 28 year old law student when attempting to steal a cell phone. Last week was some sort of drug shoot out where two more black youth were gunned down in the street and the week before someone got shot in the head for refusing to provide a ride downtown.
Over the past month one murder was committed by a white guy, but that was outside the Pittsburgh city limits. In that one the one guy shot the other in a dispute over weed!
Too many murders lately and I hate to say it but way too many by black youths. People scream racism if you point out that the black community needs help raising responsible young adults! However, there is a lack of adequate parenting in the black community and crime follows.
The small minority of sorry ass parents produces enough jail fodder to fill as many jails as the government can build. Then there are the parents who work hard and raise responsible children who become productive members of society. Those are the parents who should be applauded and held up as an example within the black community.
Just the other day I was at the hospital and one of the residents was asking me some questions. He was a black male and I could not help but think how this bright articulate man made it when so many of young blacks fail miserably. I wondered if his parents were wealthy or had college educations. I wanted to know if he went to a public school where it is perceived as "uncool" to excel. So many things swam through my head, but I kept these to myself.
In this age of political correctness i dare not speak such things in public. But, if a few young black men can make it why not a few more. How long will the black community stand by with so many of their young making the wrong decisions. Maybe this is more of an inner city problem, but it affects us all.
Oh well, just my two cents!
One thing that reallu stands out is the amount of murders going on in this city the last couple of months. The main issue with all these murders is that 99.9% of these homicides are being committed by young black men. Not a good sign!
This morning a story about a 15 year old black youth shooting and killing a 28 year old law student when attempting to steal a cell phone. Last week was some sort of drug shoot out where two more black youth were gunned down in the street and the week before someone got shot in the head for refusing to provide a ride downtown.
Over the past month one murder was committed by a white guy, but that was outside the Pittsburgh city limits. In that one the one guy shot the other in a dispute over weed!
Too many murders lately and I hate to say it but way too many by black youths. People scream racism if you point out that the black community needs help raising responsible young adults! However, there is a lack of adequate parenting in the black community and crime follows.
The small minority of sorry ass parents produces enough jail fodder to fill as many jails as the government can build. Then there are the parents who work hard and raise responsible children who become productive members of society. Those are the parents who should be applauded and held up as an example within the black community.
Just the other day I was at the hospital and one of the residents was asking me some questions. He was a black male and I could not help but think how this bright articulate man made it when so many of young blacks fail miserably. I wondered if his parents were wealthy or had college educations. I wanted to know if he went to a public school where it is perceived as "uncool" to excel. So many things swam through my head, but I kept these to myself.
In this age of political correctness i dare not speak such things in public. But, if a few young black men can make it why not a few more. How long will the black community stand by with so many of their young making the wrong decisions. Maybe this is more of an inner city problem, but it affects us all.
Oh well, just my two cents!
Home Alone
First off, my other half left this morning and will be gone for an entire week! Leaving me alone with the dogs, chores and nothing to do! I get a little stir crazy when left alone and am not one who handles too much alone time all that well.
The first day is great! I can make messes and not clean up, I can surf the net and download porn for hours and play video games until my hands and arms hurt. After that I miss having someone around to talk/argue with. I spend the rest of the time calling on the phone and sending emails! Pathetic, I know!
I have started the morning doing something I should not have done. I placed a VERY large order for shoes online. I had permission to purchase four pair (1 for him, 1 for his son and 2 for me), but the initial order was denied because I used an expired credit card. This morning I placed a new order and instead of ordering 2 pair for me I ordered 8 pair! Oops! I am going to need to be creative on hiding these when they come in.
I am a bit of a shoe whore, but to be honest I am not so sure that is a bad thing. I have so many that I can rotate them all and my shoes last forever! I literally have shoes that are over 10 years old and look almost new. Occasionally, I have to toss shoes that are worn a bit too much - but we all do!
I am making a personal promise to myself not to shop online for the rest of the week!
Okay, 0638. What am I going to do for the rest of the day? Hmmm there is a bottle or two of cabernet downstairs. How early is too early to start drinking?
The first day is great! I can make messes and not clean up, I can surf the net and download porn for hours and play video games until my hands and arms hurt. After that I miss having someone around to talk/argue with. I spend the rest of the time calling on the phone and sending emails! Pathetic, I know!
I have started the morning doing something I should not have done. I placed a VERY large order for shoes online. I had permission to purchase four pair (1 for him, 1 for his son and 2 for me), but the initial order was denied because I used an expired credit card. This morning I placed a new order and instead of ordering 2 pair for me I ordered 8 pair! Oops! I am going to need to be creative on hiding these when they come in.
I am a bit of a shoe whore, but to be honest I am not so sure that is a bad thing. I have so many that I can rotate them all and my shoes last forever! I literally have shoes that are over 10 years old and look almost new. Occasionally, I have to toss shoes that are worn a bit too much - but we all do!
I am making a personal promise to myself not to shop online for the rest of the week!
Okay, 0638. What am I going to do for the rest of the day? Hmmm there is a bottle or two of cabernet downstairs. How early is too early to start drinking?
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