Back to reality

It was fun, but too short. Yes, vacation is nearly over. It was fun though, spending time with Bubba and Dahey and some of the other assorted relatives who were roaming around Rehab Land.

I saw some movies. Between Redbox, our local library, the movie theatre and cable TV, I saw lots of stuff: things I haven't seen in years (Elf, Scrooged), things I see every year (It's a Wonderful Life, A Christmas Story) and movies I wanted to see this summer (Trainwreck, Inside Out).

My trip to the movie theatre was not for Star Wars (I was busy being an elf while that was going on) but with Bubba to see Daddy's Home. While it's not for everyone, it is a good one for kids, and per usual Will Ferrell movies, there is a big dance scene.

I wanted to see more holiday lights, but the weather of late has not cooperated. Tornado watches and rain ruined any chances of that.

Being away, however, when you are with people you want to be with, is priceless. While it was a lot of work, it was worth it.

I hope you enjoy your holiday season and the new year to come.

Stay tuned.

So glad

TGIF! A long weekend awaits with Dahey and Bubba. I can't wait. It's been far too long.

It was an exciting week. Dahey returned from TDY. Hallelujah! I have a backup for the soon-to-be teenager who needs a parent pal sometimes. I love Bubba, but Momma needs a break! The boys are already planning their next adventure to the movies for The Martian.

We survived the inspection, but maybe, after a few of these, I'm becoming jaded. Some of the things they asked us has very little bearing on nursing. I like to consider myself informed, but I had no idea about some of the stuff they asked. Happily, most of my other colleagues in the department felt the same.

Happily, we saw a few patients and got some work done. Since we've had a few exciting things happen lately, I've gotten to put on my research hat. One of our patients seemed sick but really had a anteroapical MI on our acute unit. Diagnosing an MI in a spinal cord injury patient, or one with diminshed sensation due to stroke, brain injury, etc., can be challenging.

I learn something new every day. Another one of our patients had issues being intubated so the doctors elected to do awake airway intubation for his/her surgery. It was very interesting to me to watch the staff who participated in this video below.

Hope you enjoy your weekend, long or short, wherever you may be!

Vacation: the inevitable

It's not close, but vacation will end. I know it. I still have a ton of things to do. Even if I were off for a month, I'm sure I'd harbor some regret for what didn't get done around the house, but I'm doing my best.

I continue to work on getting the outdoor work done: packing up yard waste for pickup, cutting down and mowing stuff. I haven't mowed in years, and yes, I have the mosquito bites to prove it (despite everything, they love me).

Bubba decided he really didn't want to go to the CityPark pool again with camp, so since he crashed into another kid yesterday and got a huge bump on his head, I decided to keep him home. The camp  forced me: they called in panic mode yesterday and made me pick him up. It worked out well that I told Dahey where I was going, because they called him at work when I didn't answer and he had to find me at the movie theatre where I was trying to be a grown up and watching a grown up movie (Amy, the documentary on Amy Winehouse). Luckily, there weren't too many other folks around (and I was able to get a voucher to come again).

Since Bubba was on sick leave, and I'm on vacation, we went on a placid stroll in town at the gardens, then we went to lunch and had cupcakes. He even went to a local house featured on Ghost Adventures. Thankfully, he was sufficiently scared by some of the stuff he saw for sale in the gift shop, that we won't be going back.

Now, I just have to take him to a boy movie (Ant Man) instead of Dahey. We're going to an interesting old theatre, and this time, I'll make sure to leave the phone on vibrate, just in case.

Stay tuned.

Monday, Monday (aka back to work)

It was a brief trip to MegaConference and it was fun. I even met some new friends on my whirlwind tour. I tried to meet one nurse blogger, but she wasn't coming in, until I left town. I got lots of looks at my poster and made sure I didn't take a single handout home, by using a couple of marketing gimmicks. (I marked my literature holder--aka a brown envelope--with the words TRADE SECRETS).

All that business experience helped. I also corralled a spot near my poster and carefully set my coat and a notebook there (with a glass) so I could go between sessions and not lose my spot. (We were expected to be by the poster at break times, so...)

Dahey and Bubba drove around the town exploring, watching dogs and sailboats. Bubba also proved that kids needing to go to the bathroom is really a universally understood problem, no matter in what sort of ethnic neighborhood you may find yourself. They also saw a movie, which was a good excuse for Dahey to find a dark place with a comfy chair for a nap. (We got up really early to get me to the conference on time, since our hotel was far away in the suburbs.)

There was a party once the session was over, but I literally had to fly out of there, after I talked to an exec I had tweeted to during the sessions. It was nice to finally meet her after conversing back and forth. It was bedlam--cars, taxis, buses, everywhere. It was a miracle Dahey and Bubba could get to me amidst all the masses escaping the conference hall looking for a ride. I was really happy one of the staffers there was able to get us back to the highway to RehabLand.

It was literally down the street and around one corner. So we drove away into the evening to RehabLand.

Today was a long day with lots of caffeine infusions. My last one is wearing off, so I will say good night.

More fun to come...

Weekend diversions

What kinds of movies will a rehab nurse watch before hanging out with hundreds of other rehab nurses? Well, if you're into history and sports,like I am, you'll watch The Best of Men. My favorite part was watching it on Bubba's computer (which has a big screen). Somehow I got it on closed captioning by mistake.

Maybe because I have a lot of parental controls turned on (maybe note), but I noticed that all the swear words were not included.

Another interesting article I found today was this article about the big cheese at one hospital taking a pay cut. What a novel idea. Hope this one spreads.

Now I just get to make dinner and get ready for Monday.

More to come, so stay tuned!

If it's Sunday...

It's time for Sunday Stealing again. Hope you enjoy the latest one called For old times' sake. My answers are below.

Cheers!

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When was the last time you swam in a pool? Months ago.

 Do you like to party? Sure.

Describe the shirt you're wearing? Green.

What is one feature film that you don't like? Most action films.

Would people describe you as happy? Yes.

Sleep with or without clothes on? On.

Does it bother you if people swear around you? No.

Do you prefer Wednesdays or Thursdays? Right now, Wednesdays.

Like to travel? Yes.

Think you're attractive? Sure.

Are or were you a good student? Yes.

Are you currently happy? Yes.

Colored or black-and-white photo? I like black and white.

Do you consider yourself the life of the party? No.

Do you drink? Yes.

Do you make fun of people? Only if they pick on me.

Do you think dreams eventually come true? Some do.

Favorite fictional character? George Bailey.

Go to the movies or rent? Both.

Have you ever moved? Yes.

How's the weather right now? Pretty sunny.

Last time you cut your hair? About a month ago.

Last person you talked to on the phone? Husband.

Last time you showered? Last night.

Loud or soft music? All depends.

McDonalds or Burger King? Burger King.

Night or day? Day.

Number of pillows?  One.

Piano or guitar? Guitar.

Current annoyance? Allergies.

Last thing you ate? Cupcakes

Last thing you bought? Groceries

Pick a lyric, any lyric or a song...Because I'm happy...

Pick a movie quote...Here's looking at you, kid.

Bonding with Bubba

Oh, the fun and excitement of living with a tween boy who is spring break staycationing.

1. Bubba thinks he's immune to taking baths or showers (and he loves swimming). I'm reminding him that he really does need to clean the cracks and crevices more than he does.

2. Since Dahey had to work, I took him to soccer. His team lost. He was sad. Dahey got updates via text and phone, though. The team got lots of shots, but nothing would go into the goal.

3. We took my sister out to lunch. Both of them are never happier than in an eating establishment. No one is ever bored with food around.

4. Movies are on the agenda, but since it was later in the day when we got home, I decided to hold off on seeing  Mr. Peabody and Sherman, but we had to get Thor.

I was so tired from my crazy week, I promptly feel asleep during most of the movie.

Ah, togetherness...

Lovin' every minute of it

Yes, there's a song about this title, but since the staycation is drawing to a close, I'm still enjoying myself.

Weather is cooperating, had my own film festival and watched lots of movies, and hung out with Bubba and Dahey whenever I could.

Back to the entertainment,or as they say back to the wheel.

More later...

It's Sunday...

Here's the latest meme on movies from the Sunday Stealing crew. Enjoy wherever you are!

1. Name your favorite movie actor:  Depends. I like lots of them. Harrison Ford, George Clooney, Daniel Day Lewis, Liam Neeson, so many...
2. Name your favorite movie actress:  Margot Kidder, Kathleen Turner, Sandra Bullock (lots of them too!)
3. You would never watch a movie with: hmm...depends on that too.
4. Favorite candy/food to watch movies with:  Snocaps
5. Three favorite tv channels: NBC, CBS, CNN
6. Cable or satellite? Cable
7. Do you watch more movies at home or at the theater? Home
8. Is there a time of year that you watch more tv? Winter 

Kids say...

The darnedest things. Since I wanted to watch a grown up movie from a Redbox this weekend, I went looking online.Bubba, who sees lots of movies, told me the one I chose to rent (The Intouchables--good for a rehab nurse, eh?) is "basically rated R, Mom". Yes, I knew it was since I had to prove I was over 18.

His assessment of the last rated R movie he saw (he caught bits of Dahey watching Silkwood): "they say a lot of bad words."

Somehow, he mentioned Lincoln was rated PG-13 and had "a" words and "b" words. Then he says, "Isn't booby trap a bad word?"

It all depends, dear, it all depends. Should be an interesting Easter weekend here in RehabLand with the gathering of relatives, Dahey's birthday, and all the other assorted excitement.

Hope you all enjoy whatever holiday you'll be celebrating wherever you are.

Nuggets for April 22

Yes, right on time...almost...is the latest installment of Nuggets from my meanderings on the web. Enjoy!

Could lice prevent asthma? It makes me a little creeped out, though. (Don't think too much and you won't itch!)
http://www.reuters.com/article/lifestyleMolt/idUSTRE53L00M20090422

Walnuts and breast cancer. Another item they'll sell out in the stores now.
http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSTRE53K52820090421

Diet can increase risk of kidney cancer
http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE53J5M320090420?feedType=RSS&feedName=healthNews

Study Raises Estimate of Paralyzed Americans. Note: the number of MS patients jumps significantly, so take this with a grain of salt.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/21/health/21para.html

Probably the best inadvertent diet film you'll ever see, now on YouTube: SuperSize Me
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7Tv_mihMBA

Blogs to check out

Clinical Cases and Images: The blog of www.clinicalcases.org
http://casesblog.blogspot.com/

Fat Doctor and her recent post on "Lifesavers" is really worth your time
http://fatdoctor.blogspot.com/2009/04/lifesaver.html

Needle phobia is an unreal story you have to read from At Your Cervix
http://atyourcervix.blogspot.com/2009/04/needle-phobia.html

Dreams

Yes, I've been having that conversation with patients a lot lately. Maybe it has something to do with the sleeping pills. Otherwise, it just seems that people are a little more apt to talk about certain things when the sun goes down.

First, one of our guys keeps dreaming he's not sleeping at night. Yes, every time someone rounds on him, he's snoring and doesn't wake to calls of his name, but he swears to the docs that he's been up all night. Sure, they say Ambien can be a factor in sleepwalking, but for our non-ambulatory folks, I guess it could make the dreams seem as if they're awake all night. And, as you know, the patient is always right, just like the customer, until proven otherwise.

So what does that mean for us? More charting. Order that reads, "chart all times patient is awake at night." Nice.

Next, another guy, a fellow Ambien user, who never goes to bed earlier than 0300 anyway, was telling me about his dreams before he was injured: the new Harley that never was, the job offer that disintegrated, the house. He's working on some new stuff, now, since he'll be leaving us soon and going back to the area where he grew up. And he's hoping to make some of his new dreams come true. We're all excitedly crossing our fingers, since he's got everything set up for success.

Another guy seemed like he was dreaming, but he wasn't. He's going to leave us soon and he was just bawling his eyes out when I went into the room recently. Not because he's leaving right away, but that he's an old softie for a spot in one of these old movies they tend to show around Easter on TV. "Every time I see this, it gets me," he said between sniffles.

Finally, the nursing staff has a few dreams, too. Lots and lots of people are dreaming of vacation as the spring hits and summer is on its way. I'm dreaming of passing my certification and GRE exams before summer, since after that, it will be a long time before I get any more vacation. However, I do believe that we need to dream. It keeps you going.

To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe. Anatole France

And so I go...to work again. More later...