Hellooo *echoechoecho*

Remember me? I don't post around here much anymore. I would make excuses that I haven't had much interesting or exciting news to report, but as evidenced by past blog posts, I seem to have been quite capable of posting about completely irrelevant or boring topics in the past.

Maybe I'm a little burned out on writing about nursing topics, or about my patients. There's something so private and intimate about the situations that I'm sharing with my patients, they're experiencing such painful, terrifying, or life-altering experiences, that it often feels like a betrayal or even just a belittling act to write about them in my blog. They own their illnesses and their experiences, its not really mine to share with anyone. And of course we are all intimately familiar with HIPAA...I would always change any revealing details of my patients and most of the time anyone I write about is a composite of several patients. But it is often those small, identifying details about someone or their story that makes the story special, or interesting, and to change those details simply for the point of sharing the story takes something away from it. Of course I realize nursey blogging can also be about the nursing experience, and being a nurse, rather than the patients' stories, but it is also pretty hard to separate the two...one experience is defined by the other's, and vice versa.

So...on to the nursing content...I'm taking a CCRN study course this spring so I can take the exam in early summer. I'm not terribly excited about the study course except that I get paid for some of the hours and it is essentially the external motivation that I need to make myself study to take the exam.

Tonight I'm off work but I'm playing nurse to a sick little dachshund...she seems to be suffering from some kind of GI upset...frequent bouts of emesis and liquid stool through the day today. In laymans' terms, I'm discovering puddles of poo and puke in various corners of my home, and now both the kitchen and the bathroom rugs are in the laundry. But our favorite Auntie to the doggies delivered us some dinner, so I wouldn't have to leave the sick puppy alone, and I cooked up some extra bland chicken and rice dinner for her. She seems to be tolerating the dinner so far...and sleeping comfortably on the couch.

Seacaucus, sawcaucus.

I'm going to caucus for Obama because I don't believe there should be a woman as president. They are too emotional and generally have bad judgment. Not to mention, they are terrible drivers.

I.Am.Totally.Kidding. Well, except that that driving thing. Women suck at it.

Does anyone else remember back in the day, when it was considered rude to ask someone who they were voting for, that it was none of their business? Because I'm not sure why the phlebotomist who drew my blood today felt like it was totally okay to ask me who I would vote for. So I told her that convicted felons aren't allowed to vote, so at least I don't have worry about it. Because I'm too lazy to look it up, anyone have any good links that help explain Obama's policies/plans for healthcare reform? Sure, he may be inspirational and full of hope, blah blah changecakes, but I'm too cold and dead inside to be swayed by a moving speech or a touch of inspiration. I want plans.

And also...I am NOT defending the misogynistic theocracy of Saudi Arabia, but I have to play devil's advocate on this article, "Saudi Cops Grab U.S. Woman..."

Sure, it might be a bit crazy to a lot of the world that unrelated men and women cannot be together in public, but thems the rules over there. So this American woman knowingly broke the law, and goes to jail for her offense, and uhm...? Sorry. Maybe I just have a problem with her because when the power goes out in your office, you GO HOME for the day. Whee! Day off. What was she thinking? You do NOT break the law simply to get a little more work done for the day. Sheesh. Maybe a night in jail helped loosen her up a bit. Kidding. Again. Totally. Kidding.

And, Mr. Restoftheworld? You do not get off poking fun of Saudi's silly laws against women or highlighting an amusing anecdote to show how "backwards" those people are. In the same article, substitute "woman" for "racial minority"...are you still scoffing and smirking and shaking your head? Or are you sending in UN Peacekeeping forces and demanding universal human rights? Anyway. But at least they don't let women drive over there... IAMKIDDING! Get a grip.

Let's see...here is where should apologize for not updating lately. I'll try harder in the future. But to recap: Love my "new" job again, nightshift rocks, TESOL class lots of fun, cancer patients depress and inspire me. I'm considering taking the CCRN, being charge nurse, going to Turkey, making mini Turkey meatloaf muffins, going to Egypt and Jordan, and a retirement plan. I knit Foliage from Knitty.com (and I love it!), a feather and fan pattern baby blankie and matching hat, and I'm working on a long grey scarf and another baby hat. I'm totally addicted to Law and Order, it's like TV crack, and I can't turn it off. Ever.