Healthcare Reform bill, what's the rush?

There are plenty of problems with our health care. I am the first to admit it. But. You can be a bum living under a overpass and walk into most hospitals and get cared for. If you have no health insurance you will still get cared for. Yes, you will get a bill. They will take payments. It does cost you. But you do get it. And it shouldn't be free.

We need to reduce the costs of our health care. Not increase the amount it will cost each and everyone of us. And letting the government take over this private sector will in effect be doing just that.

We need to be able to get the treatment we need, not be told it wasn't going to be allowed. We are already getting that with our insurances, we don't need the government butting in also. We need to reduce costs, stop letting the insurance companies tell Doctors how to run their businesses. The overcharging for procedures needs to be addressed and patients not paying for their bills needs to be addressed.

Also what is the big rush to push this health care bill through. Even the president admits he doesn't know what is in it. Something this important needs to be carefully looked at. Not blindly pushed through. Getting fined for not having insurance! Being forced to have a certain type of insurance. Being told you can't get the treatment you need!

And today I hear one of the things on the bill is a mandatory end of life counseling for the elderly to be done twice a month, more if the elderly person is sick. Hummmmmm. Since they will be denying pacemakers, dialysis, heart surgery or any other treatments that might make you live longer then your productivity would it not make sense they would give you counseling on how to cope with your not being needed anymore. Will the Hemlock society run it? Hey, this is what all the people who lost their jobs in this new economy can be trained for. Counseling the elderly on their upcoming deaths. How soon before they nudge us in that direction rather then let nature take it course?

Health care needs to be fixed. But not with this health care reform. Ask anyone who will be voting for it what all is in the bill they won't be able to tell you. And that is wrong. We also need to get rid of Tort reform. With the lawyers running the government though chances of that are slim. So we get test after test we don't really need so the doctor can cover his butt. Sue this drug company, sue this doctor, sue sue sue.

And that's what I think. Whats the rush. Whats really in this bill. And if you believe it will really help us, the people being asked to pay for it...... I have some swamp land I want to sell you.

Made it.

Work went much better last night and best yet I am off tonight. Thank goodness because I am just exhausted. A day off is just what I need. It looks like it will rain any second which will make sleeping nice and restful.

Then when I get up I have a new book to read. Our favorite blogger Kevin from The Black Sphere book arrived and I can't wait to read it. It is called the Big Black Lie. My son was reading parts of yesterday and it sounds really good. He is going to read it after me. They are selling it on Amazon and it is getting really good reviews. I got a signed copy, thanks Kevin, and anticipate it being a good read since his blog is always entertaining.





I talked to my grandchildren yesterday. Gabe blew me a kiss over the fun. Not as wonderful as a real hug and kiss but it will do. I sure miss them. Might be time to relocate.

Well, this will be short. I am too tired to write much and my entries really get strange when I type when I am this tired. Late all and have a great day.

Let the Stress begin

Nursing is a stressful job. Lots of responsibility. They change the meds on you all the time, change your charting all the time. This week you can do this, next week you can't. It changes daily sometimes.

This has been a stressful week. Lots of changes which dramatically increased our work load and stress level. bells and alarms ringing all night long. It drives you crazy. Makes it hard to think and get any charting done. I feel like the the insane asylum are running the hospital and it is just a matter of time before they drive all of us away or fire us. Moral is way down.

I long for my day off and this craziness to end. It is amazing how much change can be brought on a floor by people who don't work in a hospital under these setting. I love it when people who don't do my job tell me how to do it..

Anyway, my shoulder is killing me, my nerves are shot. Time for bed so I can wake up and do it all over again.

Oh What a Night

I hit the floor and ran all night. It was so busy. Every call light was going off and the bed alarms were going crazy. We aren't allowed to use restraints anymore so all of confused patients who can't understand they are not to get up without calling us are on bed alarms. Which go off every 5 minutes. We have so many people on bed alarms you don't know what direction to run anymore. It's crazy. With a vest posey the patient was safe from harm. They could move around in the bed but couldn't get out of the bed and fall. Now we have to beat them to the floor. And some of the fastest patients seem to be the most confused. We are so busy doing that it is hard to get anything else done. In fact one nurse got written up by a patient for being late with his med. You just can't win.

I am getting used to the kids being gone. Don't like it but getting used to it. Catching up on some sleep. Of which I will be doing soon. My pillow is calling my name. We went for a drive the other day so I got quite a few shots I hope to post to my photo journal soon. I have some horse pictures posted. I love horses. Well, it is time for bed. Night all.

My take on things.

This bug on my tomato, pretty cool. And my tomatoes are looking pretty cool, soon BLT's, yummy.

You all know my take on global warming and this terrible Cap and Trade bill. Yesterday we took a drive up to Sioux Falls and I got to thinking, dangerous things I know. But I am not against saving our earth. That is what they are using to push these agenda's though. Don't you want to save the earth? Well..... yes I do. But I think if we pushed a world wide anti littering campaign it would be better for the earth then taxing us all on a natural by bi-product like carbon emissions. If every country would commit to just picking up their trash. Wouldn't it be wonderful to drive down the roads and not look at bottles and plastic bags hanging from trees. How hard would it be to make biodegradable packaging, worm containers that went back to the earth, sacks that melted away. Instead of teaching your children about insane things like carbon footprints and carbon credits, teach them to clean up after themselves.


I know they have the technology to do this as I used to get biodegradable worm containers. No Styrofoam containers littering the banks of every good fishing hole. Because in my experience a lot of people who fish are pigs about messing up a beautiful area. Hiking in the back woods of a beautiful park. Don't throw you glacial water bottle on the ground for Pete's sake. Why should I or anyone have to look at that crap while I hike.



And it would be cheaper then this global warming scam and honest. Course no politician will get rich at it, or maybe they would as I bet they would find some type of tax on it.


You want government control? Have them insist everything biodegrades in a healthy matter. Have the police force enforce littering laws. Teach you children its the cool and environmentally correct thing to do. In every country. World wide. Now That would be a goal I could get behind. Not this Ponzi Scheme called global warming.



We went on a lovely ride yesterday. This pretty park, went to sit a table and take some photos. The family before us enjoyed the spot enough to have lunch there. They didn't enjoy it enough to pick up their crap after they got done eating. With their children. Here kids, give me your garbage so I can put it all in this bag and leave here on the ground. Aren't I such a good role model.



I hate people who litter. I once made a friend wade into a lake when he tossed his pop can in while we were fishing. I followed a lady and her children home and tossed their garbage sack in their yard that they through out the window in front of my house. I am really really really against littering. Because a pretty spot should stay that way. And even a ugly spot wouldn't look as ugly if there wasn't trash all over. So this should be everyone's goal. Not planning on how to wisely use your carbon credits, Sheesh. That one goes right on my Lame list.


And why get passionate about it? Because its a beautiful world......isn't it.

What job couldn't you do?

What job wouldn't be worth the money and their is no way in the world they could talk you into doing it?

Could you defend a child murderer because it was your job?

Could you kill a person because it was your job?

Could you day after day refuse help to someone because it was your job?

I am happy the job I do is one will it helps people. There are many jobs I would never do though. Do the lawyers who get some scum off Scott free go home with a warm glow about a job well done? Or does it eat at you like a larvae growing into a worm in your gut. I would rather scrub floors then do some of the jobs people choose to do everyday just to earn a buck.

So tell me. What job is there not enough money in the world for you to consider doing? Me? Probably any of those above. A guard at a concentration camp, helping to put children and humans into the ovens, kill me first. A lawyer who watched the butcher grin when found not guilty because you got some positive proof of guilt thrown out of court letting man walk free? Or my favorite right now. A work comp person telling you to just suck it up and letting you suffer day after day because it was your job?

I am waiting to hear from you.

Playing with photos

I love taking photos as you probably all know but to me it is almost a art. I was really into art when I was younger. Pottery, drawing, painting. I did it all. So digital art is something I really found interesting and fun. Yes I do take photos and don't alter them at all. But part of the real fun with digital is the personal touch. Putting the art in them I like to call it. So here are some I have done.

The bottom one is Mackenzie looking her age. I took some shots of her that gave me a glimpse of the woman she would become. But some shots, the child she is shines through. This is one. You can still see the little girl in her. I do recommend looking at these full size. You just can't get a good look unless you click on them.


I hate hate hate getting my picture taken but rarely...... very rarely I do let someone take it. So here is one with my grandchildren on our last day. You can tell I am not a natural. Very uncomfortable getting my picture taken. The kids and Rick though, naturals.


I call this one a study of Gabe and the temp of his mood. I did this in 4 different moods and temperatures. Luke wants a copy of this so I am having a large one made for him.



In the flooding area's of Iowa City sits this lonely angel. Under water almost again she was just calling to have her picture done.


In the photo below I wanted to give it the type of look it would have if I painted it in watercolor. The sky was so red so I didn't have to do much except play with the grain and lighting. Rural Iowa, so quiet.



This photo cracks me up. Zoey begging but pretending she isn't. Every time you look at her she looks away. So sly and silly looking. I know your begging Baby. Silly dog. You can't fool me.

Another Iowa sunset shot using the mirror frame.


The shot below has been worked on more then the others believe it or not. I had to turn her beautiful brown hair black and enhance the color so I could delete it. Then I did infrared on her to bring out the detail and put a frame on it. I think it shows her beauty but also shows her aging. Have I told you she is a wonderful dog and that I love her immensely. A few hundred times I bet. My old cancer survivor. A great dog.


Another one I put some art into and grain to let it look like it could have been painted, or drawn.



Nothing done below but increasing the temp and adding the perfect frame. This looked so close to what we saw that night. So pretty.


So art, and photos, which are art. I think. I hope you clicked on the shots to see them full size. They really do look better that way.