They are on their way

My grandchildren should be arriving at 1015. They won't get into town until midnight give or take. I hope their flight is on time and is a safe passage. Unfortunately I won't get to see them until tomorrow. I put in for low census so keep your fingers crossed we send about 7 patients home and don't get any in. I am so excited I could spit.

It's not raining today! What a novelty. I got up early because I couldn't sleep and it was dry with blue skies. Lifts you right up. They are expecting some rain later but not enough to make the flight late. Hopefully.
Work went fair yesterday. We were busy and got several admits. We seem to be having a blue light special in A-Fib with rapid ventricular response. Several patients needed repositioning so I decided to try my new lifting restrictions out. Well you know what. It isn't going well. My shoulder was in a lot of pain by the end of the day. If by Monday it isn't better I suppose I will call the doc's office and report in. He said if it didn't work out to let them know. I also am seeing my asthma doctor this week for my regular appointment. I am anxious to see him because I have been coughing steady since I got that bronchitis about 3 or 4 months ago. Getting sick last month on top of it didn't help. I seem to have ended up with a pretty chronic cough. I gave up smoking to get rid of this type of cough. Hopefully he will have some suggestions to get rid of it for good.

I was going to stop seeing him because my insurance won't carry him anymore. They convinced me they have it straightened out and not to switch docs so we shall see. Since they started billing with a different company my insurance says they are not covered. Weird. They were covered until that. Just can't get all their little rules and regulations straight.

Another sign your getting older. When you see more 3 specialists, sheesh. Lets see, skin doc, shoulder doc, asthma doc and regular doc. Could be worse. It could be heart doc, cancer doc, dialysis doc......... There are always things worse.



Last but not least. Guess this shot. I took this shot outside. Anyone know what it is?

Computer all fixed

I just got back on the computer after a storm knocked it off line. This daily stormy weather is getting old. My African daisy's don't like much water and they are a sorry soggy mess. My lawn is so long bunnies can hide in it. But.... it is suppose to be nice tomorrow night when my grandkids land which is a prayer I have been sending every day.

Work was good last night. I got report from our drama queen nurse. She told me about one patient that sounded like the patient from hell. Oh my. I was so not ready for it. They had to have administration up and nursing services and she had to sit and hold the patients hand frequently. You had to be so very careful what you said to the patient or you would be reported Great I groaned, 12.5 hours of tiptoeing around. I was assured the family was a huge problem also.

So with shoulders squared and a heavy heart I went into to assess the patient. And found a patient and family that were very nice. Good senses of humor, slightly worried about the procedure in the morning and very receptive to teaching .

Oh man, why do I let myself fall into her drama. After 3o years I have learned you have to make up your own opinion on someone. If I go in there with pre-conceived idea's about this patient it may cloud my judgment.

Don't tell me a patient is drug seeking, don't tell me a patient is just anxious, don't tell me the family is just looking for something to be wrong. I want to go in there with a open mind and a wiliness to do all I can to make the patient comfortable. I don't want to hesitate treating pain or taking a patients complaints seriously. Let me make my own judgment. After 30 years I am pretty good at reading a patients. And most problems, the majority of problems are always a failure to communicate. Fortunately I have pretty good communication skills. not to brag.

So anyway the night went well. We were well staffed, a thrill and I was working with a fun group of nurse, another treat. The night zipped by. Several stormed rolled through and it was interesting to watch them across the sky.

I was reading someone's blog about being officially old. HMD... you know your just a baby and I would be the one calling you a kid, LOL. So here are some surefire signs for you. I won't tell you how many of them fit me but number 17 made me spit my coffee...

1. Your houseplants are alive, and you can’t smoke any of them.
2. Having sex in a twin bed is out of the question.
3. You keep more food than beer in the fridge.
4. 6:00 a.m . is when you get up, not when you go to bed.
5. You hear your favorite song in an elevator.
6. You watch the Weather Channel.
7. Your friends marry and divorce instead of “hook up” and “break up.”
8. You go from 130 days of vacation time to 14.
9. Jeans and a sweater no longer qualify as “dressed up.”
10. You’re the one calling the police because those %&@# kids next door won’t turn down the stereo.
11. Older relatives feel comfortable telling sex jokes around you.
12. You don’t know what time Taco Bell closes anymore.
13. Your car insurance goes down and your car payments go up.
14. You feed your dog Science Diet instead of McDonald’s leftovers.
15. Sleeping on the couch makes your back hurt.
16. You take naps.
17. Dinner and a movie is the whole date instead of the beginning of one.
18. Eating a basket of chicken wings at 3 AM would severely upset, rather than settle, your stomach.
19. You go to the drug store for ibuprofen and antacid, not condoms and pregnancy tests.
20. A $4.00 bottle of wine is no longer “pretty good shit.”
21. You actually eat breakfast food at breakfast time.
22. “I just can’t drink the way I used to” replaces “I’m never going to drink that much again.”
23. 90% of the time you spend in front of a computer is for real work.
24. You drink at home to save money before going to a bar.
25. When you find out your friend is pregnant you congratulate them instead of asking “Oh shit what the hell!”

Diet excuses

I have been bad, good, bad, good on my weight loss. Bad in the fact I am stuck at 11 pounds, good that I haven't gained it back. Bad that its not because I have tried not to gain it back, good to know that an occasional cheat won't mess up a month of good eating.

I have been coming up with some creative ways to convince myself to just drop the whole weight loss thing. All bullets in my chamber type things. Anger that Rick can eat twice as much as me and not gain an ounce. Isn't that one of the 7 deadly sins? Wait, its two, anger and envy. In my dark moods I use the "eat while you can because in this economy we might all be in a soup line and you'll have more reserve if you have some body weight to start with" argument. Kind of a play on the theme, "there are starving people all over the world, clean your plate type thing". Blind sight that if I never look in a mirror I can convince myself I am not as overweight as I know I am.

Then in my more honest moments. I catch a glimpse of myself in a window reflection. Oh crap, is that me? Yupper's, that's my shirt. Grab a shirt I could wear comfortably a few years ago and its tight, no...... haven't gotten that closet cleaned out yet. Check out the kitchen and find things like cake and cookies.

No.... I did not eat the entire thing. Actually Rick ate most of it and didn't gain a fraction of an ounce. But I did eat 2 pieces. And honestly. It was terrible. We bought it because years ago for my oldest son's birthdays we used to by these champagne cakes for my son for his birthday. They would use chocolate frosting for his. This bakery made these cakes like a piece of magic. The bubbles would burst in your mouth and it was so light and fresh it was a thrill to eat. So we saw this and decided to try it. The bakery we used to get them from was long gone and also long gone was the magic it took to make this cake right.


It saddened me but didn't stop me from eating 2 pieces. Thus lies my entire problem. Gee, maybe the 2nd piece won't be as horrible as the first one. It was. Maybe it won't go right to my gut, it did. Maybe it will permanently cure me from my sweet tooth...... fat chance. And it ticks me off. Why blow a month of work for something so disappointing? I could understand it for lobster and real champagne, strawberries dipped in Belgian chocolate. But for cardboard tasting sickeningly sweet pink cake. Learn to pick and choose your calories Julie.

Do as I say, Not as I vote into Law

By now I suppose everyone has heard about Obama firing the Inspector General, Gerald Walpin because of being confused? and disorientated?

Walpin led a 2008 investigation into allegations of misused taxpayer funds distributed by AmeriCorps to the St. HOPE Academy of Sacramento, founded in 1989 by Obama supporter and former NBA player Kevin Johnson. Walpin said Johnson, now mayor of Sacramento, misused roughly $850,000 in AmeriCorps funds.

Obama helped vote into law that an Inspector General couldn't be fired without a 3o day notice so they could safely be independent. Apparently that doesn't hold true if it gets to close for comfort. Walpin says he is as confused as Obama was then he said there were 57 states.

So not to mention age discrimination there is also the fact that Obama disregarded the law he helped place. It is being investigated and in the interviews with Walpin, who miraculously appears to have regained his mental capacities, hopely the truth will come out. And what about the investigation of the misused $850,000? Will that all be tossed in the trash along with all the other scandals that get to close to the oval office? Lets hope that doesn't get dropped like a hot potato just like the scandal where Nancy Pelosi was caught lieing about the CIA. Notice your not hearing anything about that. Perjury is A OK in some circles.

Regardless in what happens Gerald Walpin says he has no regrets. "Whatever happens, he wrote recently, he is proud that he "refused to go along with the U.S. attorney's office and the Corporation in bowing to the media and political pressure that resulted in this hasty settlement, contrary to the interests of the United States government."

Way to go Gerald Walpin.

Doc Visit

Saw the shoulder doc today. It's always a weird visit and I sometime wonder why they keep having me go back. They don't plan on doing anything and I could have just stayed home.

The PA comes see's me first. I tell her how I am doing, yes the shoulder still hurts, yes I am doing my exercises, yes it is worse at night and sometimes the pain is bad enough I can't sleep. Someday's it isn't very bad and sometimes it is bad enough it is beyond my pain tolerance. Not that they give you anything for pain but I mention it anyway. I tell her about the new nerve thing going on on my forearm and the pain that run down my arm at times. She talks about surgery. We talk about outcome.

10 minutes later he comes in and asks me to raise my arm. Then tells me it looks good and to start increasing my weight limit and off he goes. See you in 6 weeks he says.

You know, it's not like I really want surgery. And I have gotten used to the limitations. I miss working in my garden and hate not being able to do everything around the house I used to do. But I have to wonder still but don't have the courage to ask. Is this the recommendation you would give me if this wasn't a work comp? And if we aren't going to do anything why do I still come back every six weeks? And if using the arm isn't going to make it worse why not lift my restrictions so I don't have to bother my co-workers to help me? I mean it has been over 6 months since I hurt my arm. If it was going to get better wouldn't it have done it by now?

But I don't want to come off like I don't trust him or respect his opinion and my mother ingrained that do not be rude in me so much I have trouble asking some of these questions. I don't want him to think I am accusing him. But I think it. Would it be the same? If it was his mother or wife.......

Anyway, enough of that. Could be worse. Rick just made me another outstanding meal of pork chops and fresh steamed broccoli. It is hard to lose weight with him around. And he just told me the babies sparrows just left the nest and I missed them. Darn. I knew it was close.

We have been bothered every night by 2 raccoons coming into the back yard and eating at the feeders. That wouldn't bother me but they fight, loudly. I told Rick to stop putting out seed for awhile and maybe they will find some greener pastures. Now that the baby sparrows are gone the parents can go further to look for food. We are expected some severe weather tonight so I hope it doesn't get loud and scary. I want to sleep well since it is my last night off.

Well, guess that is all I have to ramble about tonight.

"Education is what remains after one has forgotten everything he learned in school."

Albert Einstein

When the gypsey in you stirs.

We met a woman today that was traveling the backroads of the country. Our favorite way to travel. Alone with her dog in her van she was exploring America. Meeting the people and seeing the country. I was so jealous.

That is the way Rick and I travel. Backroads.... little places along the way to strike up conversations with people along the way. This time we were the people. We talked about sites to see on her travels and places to stop. Good places to get a good home brew, places to be alone and just hike and be at peace.


I wanted to leave and pack up the van. Get ready for another trip. No deadlines, no responsibilities. Do it while we still could.


She was a very nice lady. Traveling with her dog she traveled alone in the backroads of the country. Seeing the wonderful sites and camping in out of the way places.
Mountains and prairies. Cities and long stretches of empty roads. She looks and sounded as free and happy as we did on our travels.

I want to travel. Not alone though with my dog though she is good company but with Rick. He is so fun to travel with. I want to travel.


Can I quit my job and just go city to city and earn a few bucks. Can I see this beautiful country with my camera and husband by my side.


In sept I can. For 3 weeks. But maybe I should look into doing it longer. For life is so short.

And there is so much to see.

And I would hate to miss it.

Click on the shots to see them full size.

I am going to eat kabobs and have a cool beer.


Ta all. Enjoy

It was a Good night

I took this shot down by the river, just liked the way it turned out. The sky agains't the building was cool. Click on it to see it full size.

So last night I worked my extra 12.5. In the past it seems when I sign up, or get signed up, for a extra shift the entire night is spent proving that you should have stayed home in bed. I swear I have had the worse nights on the nights I wasn't suppose to be there.

So I did an extra meditation today to get myself centered and ready for whatever was going to get thrown on me. And had an absolutely wonderful night. How did that happen?

Only got 2 admits and the only tense moment came when the telemetry tech told me my patient had just gone into asystole, darn, but he had in truth had a sinus arrest lasting 7 sec after which he converted from A-fib to sinus brady.




Trust me, a good thing. A lot of time you see that right before they convert. The patient was fine, actually feeling better. So good, no drama. Just a nice night and I got out on time.

I am off today. I have a couple of shots around town I want to get, but then just going to finish reading my book. I am reading the last Steven Hawking book, A Brief History of Time from the Big Bang to Black Holes. It is a great book. I have a new goal in life. I want to find the new quantum theory of a gravity. That will be something to keep my mind occupied during our long cold Iowa winters. Of course the odds of me doing that with my new math skills are as high as the odds my lottery ticket was a winner. But, dreaming, dreaming is free.

Speaking of physics and gravity etc. my regulator clock decided to test Newton's theory and crashed to the ground. I thought we had it secured well to the wall. And broke. So it is in the clock repair shop probably not to be seen for at least 6 months. Is there anyone is this big old country who can repair a clock within a few weeks time? Every clock man I have had takes on the average around 6 months. I miss it. I have a small one in its place but it is not the same. And it doesn't chime every 15 minutes. So that was a bummer.


Also you should check out Dad's tomato blog. Did you get one of those upside down tomato planters on a stand. Check out the recall. And check out the Eagle cam. One of the babies fell from the nest and had to be returned. Fortunately he was fine. They are all flapping their wings and the 2 remaining look like they will be flying off shortly. It was a good year for them.

And that's all. I will leave you with a few chuckles. And you simple have to check out this post. Laugh til you cry. 4 days until my grandchildren get here.