This is a picture of complete doggie delight: the satisfied exhaustion of a run through the park, the comfort of basking in the sunshine, and the joy of a "goferaride in the c-a-r". If only pure bliss was as easy for all of us :)
Next time you see somebody flatline on the monitor on a TV medical show, and the docs shock them, you can shout at the TV, "That's so not real! You never shock asystole!" and sound super smart. Well, at least sound like you took a 16-hr ACLS class, like I'm doing this weekend. Funny how no matter how many hours of classes and certifications you get, the thought of asystole on your patient's monitor still makes your own heart clench up and stop and you might wet your pants a little bit. Or so I've heard. I bet that never happens when you're just answering phones or flipping burgers. But hey, maybe it does. Note to self: most days, I like my job. Wet pants, clenched hearts, and all.
Friday, February 24, 2006
Ted schmoo
Yesterday I was in a funk, just kind of a glum, no-motivation mood. Just moped about the house, went to Target (which didn't even help much!), cuddled with the dogs, watched Monarch of the Glen. Maybe I'm still recovering from the stress of the blown pupil at work and the frenzy of the neurosurgeons on Tuesday. I think I'm still in a bit of a post-vacation funk and feeling sad that it's a long ways off till my next fun trip. Although I'm working on planning the trip to Whidbey so that helps. And also, looking at this little schmoo face makes it hard for anyone to be too glum. And today it's sunny but chilly, with weird snow bits on the ground (I always have a chuckle when Seattle tries to be all "wintry" like that. Heh.) So, I'm off to the park with S, which will help combat the glumness too. Enjoy your schmoo pic of the day :)
Friday, February 17, 2006
Haystack Rock
The third largest monolith in the world, and we were there! Cannon Beach was wonderful. The beach was beautiful, the weather was great, the dogs had a fun time and were excellent little travellers.
Get out of town!
Went to Cannon Beach on Wednesday, got back last night. Just going through the photos now, listening to the new Belle and Sebastian, in a bit of a post-vacation funk. The trip itself was awesome. Had a great road trip with dogs, and am now sure that Ted is completely over his car sickness! However, he still gets a bit squirrelly, but over all, is a very good traveller. Tessa, of course, is an old pro. She just settles into her doggy car seat and naps, looking up occasionally as we pass through towns. We stayed here, and it was adorable and cute and everything we needed. We watched silly cheesy movies and ate pizza and drank wine. Then the next day we finally saw the ocean (for the first time!!) and walked up and down the beach. It was crisp and clear and gorgeous. We toured the wee town of Cannon Beach, very very cute. We made a quick tour of Seaside, OR, and decided it was kitschy and cute but definitely to be avoided during tourist season. All in all, everyone had a great time, and we decided we really must get out of town more often!!
Monday, February 13, 2006
Private eyes...watching you...
He sees you! Here is wee Ted, taken from quite far away actually, with my new camera.There are more pics from our trip to the dog park last Friday. Still learning how to use the camera and all the special features, so bear with me.
Life at work
Ack! It's been a while since I've posted anything. Ah well, at least no one is concerned. I've been at work the past three nights. Well, I'm still at work right now, but that's semantics I guess. My first night this week my patient called me a "lying sack of shit" and a "lying bitch" because I told him that there actually was not an alligator eating his foot, as he believed. Ah well. Just a bit of ICU psychosis, possibly worsening by steroids, and maybe even a little HHV6 on the brain. I didn't take it personally. At least he didn't believe monkeys were eating his foot, because I was wearing my monkey print scrub top. It was a little weird as I was in my other patient's room down the hall, taking his vital signs, and I could hear my first patient yelling down the hall, "Why are you trying to kill me?" The following night at work I had a different assignment in the ICU. This patient was completely unresponsive and obtunded and no one knew why. Needless to say, I didn't get called any names at least. Tonight I have an ICU admit who thankfully is not too acutely ill although the large hemorrhage and midline shift on his CT does not bode well.
In other thrilling news, I've unpacked my new sewing machine and made my first pillow! Yay! I can't wait to make many many more and even some curtains this week. Of course I am am still knitting...hope to finish the plaid scarf this week and get a lot more done on the baby blanket and the blue cabled hat. Then maybe I'll start a wee kimono or cardigan. There just aren't enough crafty hours in the day!
On the dating front...I had sushi with S on Thursday. He met the dogs, which went well except Tessa was not overly impressed. That does not bode well. I suggested maybe bowling this week with my friends, which he apparently took to mean that I wanted to do something more casual and let him down easy. Weird. Guys are just weird. Had some nachos and met G for the first time last week, that was cool. Will hopefully see him again, maybe even this week. He seems fun and goofy but not as quirky weird as S. But there's something about S's quirkiness that fascinating in a nearly repellent way. I don't know though. No one should mention smurfs and p*rnography in the same sentence. Regardless, I'm think I'm going to quit the dating scene thing for a bit. I've got cable now, and would mostly rather stay home and sew seams and knit hats. Sounds lame I know, but my cable box and my dogs are better company than 99.94% of other people out there. And you 0.06%, you know who you are :)
I will post some photos with my new camera soon...of the lovely pillows, and the adventure to Cannon Beach!
In other thrilling news, I've unpacked my new sewing machine and made my first pillow! Yay! I can't wait to make many many more and even some curtains this week. Of course I am am still knitting...hope to finish the plaid scarf this week and get a lot more done on the baby blanket and the blue cabled hat. Then maybe I'll start a wee kimono or cardigan. There just aren't enough crafty hours in the day!
On the dating front...I had sushi with S on Thursday. He met the dogs, which went well except Tessa was not overly impressed. That does not bode well. I suggested maybe bowling this week with my friends, which he apparently took to mean that I wanted to do something more casual and let him down easy. Weird. Guys are just weird. Had some nachos and met G for the first time last week, that was cool. Will hopefully see him again, maybe even this week. He seems fun and goofy but not as quirky weird as S. But there's something about S's quirkiness that fascinating in a nearly repellent way. I don't know though. No one should mention smurfs and p*rnography in the same sentence. Regardless, I'm think I'm going to quit the dating scene thing for a bit. I've got cable now, and would mostly rather stay home and sew seams and knit hats. Sounds lame I know, but my cable box and my dogs are better company than 99.94% of other people out there. And you 0.06%, you know who you are :)
I will post some photos with my new camera soon...of the lovely pillows, and the adventure to Cannon Beach!
Sunday, February 05, 2006
Rosie the Riveter
Okay, so there was technically no riveting involved, but there was some twisting of an allen wrench, it just wasn't as fun-sounding. But I built a desk! Well, as in, I opened the box from Target and put the pieces together. Here is a picture of it. See, you can see two of the legs on the left side of the photo. Can I help it if the camera just naturally aims at the cute doggie with a slipper as a pillow?
Doggie of Day
Ted just wants to say how very very excited he is that I finally broke down and ordered cable TV so he can watch the Animal Planet while I'm not home, instead of Maury Povich or Fear Factor or any of the WB's quality programming.
He doesn't know that the reason I broke down is because there's shows about HORSES on the Animal Planet now!! And I'm a horsey girl at heart. Sucker for horsey things. Yes, I'll put the model horses away. As soon as I get a proper display cabinet/storage thingy. Seriously.
He doesn't know that the reason I broke down is because there's shows about HORSES on the Animal Planet now!! And I'm a horsey girl at heart. Sucker for horsey things. Yes, I'll put the model horses away. As soon as I get a proper display cabinet/storage thingy. Seriously.
Thursday, February 02, 2006
Funnies
Got this in a random email, made me chuckle, not sure where it originated from...
WINTER CLASSES FOR MEN AT THE LEARNING CENTER FOR ADULTS REGISTRATION MUST BE COMPLETED BY January 31, 2006
NOTE: DUE TO THE COMPLEXITY AND DIFFICULTY LEVEL OF THEIR CONTENTS, CLASS SIZES WILL BE LIMITED TO 8 PARTICIPANTS MAXIMUM.
Class 1 How To Fill Up The Ice Cube Trays --- Step by Step, with Slide Presentation. Meets 4 weeks, Monday and Wednesday for 2 hours beginning at 7:00 PM.
Class 2 The Toilet Paper Roll --- Does It Change Itself? Round Table Discussion. Meets 2 weeks, Saturday 12:00 for 2 hours.
Class 3 Is It Possible To Urinate Using The Technique Of Lifting The Seat and Avoiding The Floor, Walls and Nearby Bathtub? --- Group Practice. Meets 4 weeks, Saturday 10:00 PM for 2 hours.
Class 4 Fundamental Differences Between The Laundry Hamper and The Floor --- Pictures and Explanatory Graphics. Meets Saturdays at 2:00 PM for 3 weeks.
Class 5 After Dinner Dishes --- Can They Levitate and Fly Into The Kitchen Sink? Examples on Video. Meets 4 weeks, Tuesday and Thursday for 2 hours beginning At 7:00 PM!
Class 6 Loss Of Identity --- Losing The Remote To Your Significant Other. Help Line Support and Support Groups. Meets 4 Weeks, Friday and Sunday 7:00 PM
Class 7 Learning How To Find Things --- Starting With Looking In The Right Places And Not Turning The House Upside Down While Screaming. Open Forum. Monday at 8:00 PM, 2 hours.
Class 8 Health Watch --- Bringing Her Flowers Is Not Harmful To Your Health. Graphics and Audio Tapes. Three nights; Monday, Wednesday, Friday at 7:00 PM for 2 hours.
Class 9 Real Men Ask For Directions When Lost --- Real Life Testimonials. Tuesdays at 6:00 PM Location to be determined.
Class 10 Is It Genetically Impossible To Sit Quietly While She Parallel Parks? Driving Simulations. 4 weeks, Saturday's noon, 2 hours.
Class 11 Learning to Live --- Basic Differences Between Mother and Wife. Online Classes and role-playing. Tuesdays at 7:00 PM, location to be determined
Class 12 How to be the Ideal Shopping Companion Relaxation Exercises, Meditation and Breathing Techniques. Meets 4 weeks, Tuesday and Thursday for 2 hours beginning at 7:00 PM.
Class 13 How to Fight Cerebral Atrophy --- Remembering Birthdays, Anniversaries and Other Important Dates and Calling When You're Going To Be Late. Cerebral Shock Therapy Sessions and Full Lobotomies Offered. Three nights; Monday, Wednesday, Friday at 7:00 PM for 2 hours.
Class 14 The Stove/Oven --- What It Is and How It Is Used. Live Demonstration. Tuesdays at 6:00 PM, location to be determined.
Upon completion of any of the above diplomas will be issued to the survivors.
WINTER CLASSES FOR MEN AT THE LEARNING CENTER FOR ADULTS REGISTRATION MUST BE COMPLETED BY January 31, 2006
NOTE: DUE TO THE COMPLEXITY AND DIFFICULTY LEVEL OF THEIR CONTENTS, CLASS SIZES WILL BE LIMITED TO 8 PARTICIPANTS MAXIMUM.
Class 1 How To Fill Up The Ice Cube Trays --- Step by Step, with Slide Presentation. Meets 4 weeks, Monday and Wednesday for 2 hours beginning at 7:00 PM.
Class 2 The Toilet Paper Roll --- Does It Change Itself? Round Table Discussion. Meets 2 weeks, Saturday 12:00 for 2 hours.
Class 3 Is It Possible To Urinate Using The Technique Of Lifting The Seat and Avoiding The Floor, Walls and Nearby Bathtub? --- Group Practice. Meets 4 weeks, Saturday 10:00 PM for 2 hours.
Class 4 Fundamental Differences Between The Laundry Hamper and The Floor --- Pictures and Explanatory Graphics. Meets Saturdays at 2:00 PM for 3 weeks.
Class 5 After Dinner Dishes --- Can They Levitate and Fly Into The Kitchen Sink? Examples on Video. Meets 4 weeks, Tuesday and Thursday for 2 hours beginning At 7:00 PM!
Class 6 Loss Of Identity --- Losing The Remote To Your Significant Other. Help Line Support and Support Groups. Meets 4 Weeks, Friday and Sunday 7:00 PM
Class 7 Learning How To Find Things --- Starting With Looking In The Right Places And Not Turning The House Upside Down While Screaming. Open Forum. Monday at 8:00 PM, 2 hours.
Class 8 Health Watch --- Bringing Her Flowers Is Not Harmful To Your Health. Graphics and Audio Tapes. Three nights; Monday, Wednesday, Friday at 7:00 PM for 2 hours.
Class 9 Real Men Ask For Directions When Lost --- Real Life Testimonials. Tuesdays at 6:00 PM Location to be determined.
Class 10 Is It Genetically Impossible To Sit Quietly While She Parallel Parks? Driving Simulations. 4 weeks, Saturday's noon, 2 hours.
Class 11 Learning to Live --- Basic Differences Between Mother and Wife. Online Classes and role-playing. Tuesdays at 7:00 PM, location to be determined
Class 12 How to be the Ideal Shopping Companion Relaxation Exercises, Meditation and Breathing Techniques. Meets 4 weeks, Tuesday and Thursday for 2 hours beginning at 7:00 PM.
Class 13 How to Fight Cerebral Atrophy --- Remembering Birthdays, Anniversaries and Other Important Dates and Calling When You're Going To Be Late. Cerebral Shock Therapy Sessions and Full Lobotomies Offered. Three nights; Monday, Wednesday, Friday at 7:00 PM for 2 hours.
Class 14 The Stove/Oven --- What It Is and How It Is Used. Live Demonstration. Tuesdays at 6:00 PM, location to be determined.
Upon completion of any of the above diplomas will be issued to the survivors.
Rivers of Poo
These have been three very very bizarre nights at work. Are the planets in a weird alignment or something? Is Mars in the house of Uranus or whatever? Two days ago, the hospital had five Code 199's (Code Blue = Cardiac Arrest) within a few hours. To give you an idea, most days there's only one, if that. On our unit alone, day shift had an unexpected death, a code 199, an emergent intubation, then a code on our stem cell unit downstairs, a death downstairs, and another death at the very start of night shift. That's more than sometimes happens in a month.
Here's one for the List of Things You Do NOT Want to Hear in Report: Pt is received four liters of Golytely. Golytely is an electrolyte solution, often given to a patient the day before he or she is to undergo a colonoscopy or similar procedure...it Cleans you Out. There is nothing "lyte" about it. And four liters is a lot. Combine that with the fact that the patient is getting tube feeds and hasn't had a bowel movement in over a week, and you're not in for a pleasant night. First of all, my genius hospital assistant showed me the wonder of a cannister connected to wall suction. However, I will never forget the sound of suctioning stool off the bed. But, that was over a liter of stool into the suction wand that didn't end up on the floor or worse: on me. And we all know Rule #2 of Nursing: The only thing worse than poop is when it's on your pants and it's not yours. But perhaps my finest moment was as I spooned the stool off the bed into a tiny clear plastic container to send it to the lab. There's something about a white plastic spoon and well...I just kept repeating to myself, "I am a highly trained professional. I have valuable skills. I have an expensive education. Ah shit...the suction's clogged again..." Seriously, rivers. Nonstop. Continuous. Oozing. Tonight my love for double-gloving really paid off. And yes, if you are still reading this and aren't running screaming "Groders!!" then I will admit that there was digital disimpaction involved as well.
I am a highly trained and skilled professional. And don't forget the mask with face shield, people.
Here's one for the List of Things You Do NOT Want to Hear in Report: Pt is received four liters of Golytely. Golytely is an electrolyte solution, often given to a patient the day before he or she is to undergo a colonoscopy or similar procedure...it Cleans you Out. There is nothing "lyte" about it. And four liters is a lot. Combine that with the fact that the patient is getting tube feeds and hasn't had a bowel movement in over a week, and you're not in for a pleasant night. First of all, my genius hospital assistant showed me the wonder of a cannister connected to wall suction. However, I will never forget the sound of suctioning stool off the bed. But, that was over a liter of stool into the suction wand that didn't end up on the floor or worse: on me. And we all know Rule #2 of Nursing: The only thing worse than poop is when it's on your pants and it's not yours. But perhaps my finest moment was as I spooned the stool off the bed into a tiny clear plastic container to send it to the lab. There's something about a white plastic spoon and well...I just kept repeating to myself, "I am a highly trained professional. I have valuable skills. I have an expensive education. Ah shit...the suction's clogged again..." Seriously, rivers. Nonstop. Continuous. Oozing. Tonight my love for double-gloving really paid off. And yes, if you are still reading this and aren't running screaming "Groders!!" then I will admit that there was digital disimpaction involved as well.
I am a highly trained and skilled professional. And don't forget the mask with face shield, people.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
