TGIF (for so many reasons)

Yes, I'm thankful it's Friday because I don't have to work on Monday. Happy long weekend to all of you fortunate enough to be able to celebrate our country's presidents Monday.

I have been doing research for another conference abstract (the story of my life lately) so I've managed to find some interesting articles, including this one on writing a good one. Some of these are even appropriate for the abstracts.  Here are a few of the ones I found below.

While I'm not looking for a job right now, I try to keep my reference list up to date. This article talks about how to ask references the right questions to get good information on candidates. While I don't actually check the references, I have interviewed people. One of the folks I interviewed provided us a list of references to check. Surprisingly, the candidate's name and phone number was on his/her list. It gave me a chuckle, as the other interviewers didn't immediately pick up on this. This got said applicant in my "Interesting Interviews Hall of Fame".

The end of this week was sad, though. One of the national folks for our program died suddenly this past weekend just as he was getting ready to watch the Super Bowl. His team won, so despite everything, there were a few smiles knowing that. He was not old and it was not expected.

We found out that one of our coworkers has a family member with cancer. What makes it worse is that it's a child. Being new at the Hotel is crazy enough, then to have your family member have cancer is just awful.

These moments remind us all to be grateful for health. It's never guaranteed.

Until next time...

For Phil tomorrow...

Yes, folks, it's one of the ONLY days of the year that we watch rodents with pomp and circumstance. It's Groundhog Day eve.

It is Super Bowl Sunday, but you have to admit, Groundhog Day is pretty fun, too, even without multimillion dollar commercials. So lots of sites, like Cake Wrecks, are celebrating Phil and all the other furry characters around the country who will be busy prognosticating early tomorrow morning.

And if it's not on in your area, check out the classic movie Groundhog Day.

I will be thinking of all of you, because I'll be hoping my day (and yours) doesn't keep replaying and that someone predicts an early spring.

Happy Groundhog Day to all...

If you thought you had a bad day...

Then you haven't seen this article (or the compelling pictures).

My day may seem crappy, but in retrospect, it's actually pretty darned good, thank you very much.

Hope your Super Bowl Sunday is going well, whether you're celebrating it on the unit or at a party.

Here's this weekend's Sunday Stealing below, since this is the All who wander are not lost (one of my favorite quotes) edition.

Enjoy!

1. Put your music player of choice on shuffle and list the first song
1. Relax, by Frankie Goes to Hollywood.
2. If you could spend a week anywhere in the world, where would it be and why? Would you take anyone with you?
1. Right now, it would be somewhere warm. Otherwise, I'd take my husband and son to Paris, France.
3. What is your preferred writing implement? (eg. Blue pen, pencil, green pen)
1. Black pen. Always, and forever. It's legal!
4. When did you go on your first trip alone (without your parents)?
1. When I went to camp at 10.
5. Do you have connections to any celebrities (even minor)? List them.
1. Only drive by ones. I'm related (by marriage) to a pharmaceutical inventor. I went to high school with a girl whose sister is a nurse on a reality show.
6. Name 3 items you could pick up from where you are.
1. Phone, paper, pens
7. How would you describe your sense of humor?
1. Offbeat
8. Do you ever play board games or other non-computer games? Got any favorites?
1. I like Monopoly
9. A musical artist you love that isn’t well known.
1. Johnny Clegg and Savuka
10. A musical artist you love that is well known.
1. Paul Simon
11. What is your desktop background currently?
1. A graphic of leaves.
12. Last person you talked to, and through what you talked to them
1. My husband. The milk was sour.
13. What do you carry your money in?
1. Wallet
14. What timekeeping devices are in the room you are currently in?
1. My phone and my watch.
15. What kind of headphones do you use?
1. All kinds (mostly earbuds)
16. What musical artists have you seen perform live?
1. Midnight Oil, Stevie Ray Vaughn, TMBG, Air Supply, all sorts of bands, really.
17. How often do you clear your browser history?
1. All the time.
18. What’s the best job you’ve ever had?
1. I like the one I have, thanks. 
19. What’s the worst job you’ve ever had?
1. Burger King at 16. Got burnt on the fry basket.
20. What magazines do you read, if any? 
1. Lots. Fashion, computers, nursing, you name it.

The tradition..super

 The reason women don't play football is because eleven of them would never wear the same outfit in public.  ~Phyllis Diller

For many years, I actually got paid to watch Super Bowl commercials thanks to a guy named Bob and a job in a marketing department. (That was fun!)

Since I left that job almost a decade ago, now I just have to watch the commercials from home. When I first became a nurse, it seemed like my weekend to work was literally EVERY Super Bowl Sunday. So since I'm not there anymore, it was no surprise that the nurse manager (only half jokingly) asked if I wanted to work today.

It seems no one wants to work Super Bowl Sunday if they can be at home  partying it up. Sometimes we get volunteers coming in for Super Bowl, but not always.

Nevertheless, the rehab nurses at the Hotel can totally love this Super Bowl cake photo. It will describe their evening shift...thanks to Cake Wrecks.

Stay tuned...and have a Supper bowl wherever you are. 

Nuggets for February 3rd

Since I've had some free time in between loads of laundry, here are a few choice nuggets I've read lately. Enjoy!

If you are a nurse
You'll always find a gem at Podunk Memorial. Some are oldies, but still goodies.

Die-hard sports fans face heart risks
From the NY Times, this article discusses cardiac risks for getting too charged up about your favorite team....just in time for Super Bowl. At least, they didn't do an expose on the appetizers and beverages you may eat!

Six Killers
This is a section the NY Times did in 2007 on the top six causes of death in the US. While it's not a leading health publication, there are some really good articles on these health issues, particularly the link between diabetes and heart disease.