RehabRN book club: Summer 16 part 3

I've been busy reading, since Bubba is in the home stretch of the local reading club. We take at least 1-2 trips to the library each week.

I'm still working on We have the technology, which has vignettes by sense, and I really enjoy it.

However, on our latest trip (since they are closed Monday for the holiday) I found a book I've been waiting to read, When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi. I saw his interviews and knew some of the story, but the little book (I actually read it all this afternoon) was so much more than the videos of his interviews.

You read about what it's like for a doctor to get cancer and be a patient. You read about happy things, but things are also very sad. Many reviewers, big name authors themselves, recommend this as one of the most important books you'll read. I have to agree. Life is short, and only some of us will have the courage to live it, in the face of some terrible things, on our own terms with dignity.

More later on what's new on the reading list...

RehabRN book club: The TGIF edition

Yes, dear readers, it's been a while. Books just take forever anymore, especially when I spend an inordinate amount of time with my new baby computer, trying to get everything where I want it. Online backups are wonderful, yet slow.

However, I must say, I've found some good stuff to read. As I may have mentioned earlier, Brief by Joseph McCormack is a keeper. If you're a fan of the Elements of Style, it's more concept than rule. It really does give practical advice. I'll be buying one (since I got threats from the library if I didn't return it).

My most recent finish (on Wednesday) was Presence by Amy Cuddy. To me, there's a lot to like in this book. As a rehab nurse, you'll be cheering for Amy because she's a rehab patient who's made it (she had a DAI for all of you who are interested.) As an escaped business person, she went to work at Harvard Business School and changed up a lot of things with her research. Overall, Amy's book is stories of how presence changes things (see her TED talk for the rest of the story).

Trust me, I'll be posing it up before my next set of meetings. Why not?

Have a great weekend! Enjoy every minute.

So eloquently said

While I haven't posted a RehabRN reading list lately, I'm still reading. Right now, I'm really getting into Atul Gawande's Being Mortal. It's a story about living, moving on, assisted living, aging and dying.

The stories are really vivid and I can just about picture the folks they are discussing in front of me.

There are so many things we need to learn about aging, death, and dying.

Stay tuned.

RehabRN book club: Fall edition

Yes, the days are getting shorter, and since I'm burning the lights anyway, I might as well read. RehabLand has wonderful library folks, so check out your local library. You'll enjoy it and it's cheap.

Here are a few items on my current reading list:

1. The Great Escape by Angus Deaton. The newest Nobel laureate's book is on economics, but unlike it's common description (the dismal science), this book is very readable, even if you haven't sat through one, two, three (or like me, even more) economics classes. Professor Deaton writes a readable book that even a rehab nurse who's thinking of going to the dark side (insurance or anywhere outside the Hotel) could love.

Highly recommend this, especially if you want to learn something new, without trying too hard. Thank goodness he has a sense of humor.

2. The Joy of Work by Scott Adams. Dilbert at his 1990s finest.  Reminds me of the good old days before I was a nurse. Gives me street cred with the technical folks, even though many of the tricks mentioned are dated.

My favorite escape book: I keep a copy of this in my bathroom.

3. My secret fetish lately: cookbooks. I read any and all for ideas on how to snazz up meals and bake new cakes, cookies, etc. Bubba is becoming an eating machine (and a picky one at that) so this helps keep him fed and out of my cabinets (for a while). Yes, you can get these recipes on the internet, but since my kitchen is too small for a computer and dangerous for an iPad, etc., I'm erring on the side of caution with a real book.

My current favorite: the old, reliable, Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook. I got a healthy one from work, but haven't tried it out yet.

Hope you enjoy these. Will keep you updated on the next exciting book. I will be attending a meet and greet at a bookstore this week, so I hope to have a new review soon.

Happy reading!

The missing piece

Dear Social Studies Teacher:

I'm so glad I spent a lot of time dealing with this country in my other life. I've been there several times and visited just about every provincial capital. I can tell you all sorts of things and can answer 90% of the questions on this assignment with my eyes closed and one hand behind my back.

However there is no way I can help Bubba identify weather patterns on Map B and C if said maps are not included with the rest of the worksheets.

I may have a pretty good memory for trivia, but no idea on weather maps.

Please send them home and Bubba will complete them tomorrow.

Sincerely yours,

RehabRN
Bubba's personal secretary (aka Mom)

RehabRN's Book Club: Summer vacation edition

No, I did not just pick up any old trashy romance novel at the airport newsstand. I actually went to the library (my favorite place to pick up books). Here's what's made it to the reading list this vacation week.

1. The Power of Less by Leo Baubauta. What's my favorite part of any book? Brevity and clarity. If it's short, I'll read it from cover to cover pretty quickly.

I wasn't quite able to sit  down and just read it until it was done (as Dahey often does), but I did  finish it today, and finishing any book in three days for me is a sprint.

Next on my list,

2. The Book of Joan by Melissa Rivers. Okay, it's as close to a trashy novel that I'll get. It's always interesting to hear what kids have to say about their celebrity parents, especially ones who were as famous as Joan Rivers.

Finally, for number 3, I always have Lewis Grizzard's Last Bus to Albuquerque on my night stand as my go to book. When I need some comic relief, I just pick a page, open it and start reading. I also start laughing and thinking that this interesting character has been gone for far too long. What would he think of the Kardashians and all the internet/Facebook/Twitter/Pinterest/Instagram world we live in?

More books are on order at the library, so stay tuned.

Summer reading club

Yes, raise your hand, if you're one of those people who makes a New Year's resolution to read more? That's me, too. In my day-to-day work, I'm always reading. Most of the things I read are guidelines, policies, procedures or official-type documents.

As a kid, I was a veteran of the Summer Reading Club here in RehabLand. I have many fond memories of going to my local library, doing the program and getting my name put up on the wall with those of the other kids in my school in the children's section. I loved getting the certificate of completion and the FREE book. Although I loved to read, my free book was always a Peanuts paperback book. It was something they didn't loan out much in the library, and it was my reward for finishing. Snoopy was the subject of my first book.

Thankfully, I don't have to worry anymore about losing my summer reading club book list. Our new library has a reading club online and they give prizes to adults, too! It may not be Snoopy books, but it's fun.

Here's what I've read or am reading right now. Hope you'll enjoy them, or head on over to your local library and find one of your own.

1.Thoughts are things: Turning your ideas into realities by Bob Proctor & Greg S. Reid. I enjoyed this book about ideas and using them in life.Based on the ideas of the Napoleon Hill Foundation.

2. Small Batch: Pickles, cheese, chocolate, spirits and the return of artisanal foods, by Suzanne Cope. If you love food and love stories, you'll like this book, which talks about history, food and the new companies that have grown up doing what our ancestors did all the time.

3. Simple Lessons for a Better Life by Charles E. Dodgen. I'm still reading this, and I'm loving it. A couple of stories hit home for me, and really look a lot like what has happened occasionally at the Hotel. If you want a different view of nursing homes and older people from a the perspective of a psychologist., this is it.

Winter in RehabLand

If deep cold wasn't enough, we got a reprieve. The last two days have been above freezing (32F). Now the weather people are predicting freezing rain.I don't care. I have everything stocked up and gassed up the car. From the looks of the stores, it was mild panic.

Just let the light and heat stay on and I'm good.

Do your thing, Mother Nature. I hope I'm ready. If not, I'll just keep reading all this interesting stuff while I wait.

Stay tuned...

Share the love

I really like reading other blogs. Nursing blogs, doctor blogs, you name it.

So today, I'm going to share the love for one of my favorite all-time MD blogs, KevinMD.

While I was enjoying some quality time with Bubba (recuperating from running around on his spring break when I could), I perused blogs I haven't had the chance to really read in a while.

KevinMD had some posts that I really enjoyed. Hope you do, too.

• Have you ever felt that you've been profiled by your doctor? I have (I've been that "asks too many questions" relative). This article was illuminating and had plenty of examples.
  
• CYA medicine? Yes, it really does exist.
  
• People die without love. Sad and so very true.

I was in charge of reading this stuff once...

There are no tea leaves at the Hotel unless one of the nurses brings them in or someone tears up one of our fine no-name teabags.

However, rehab nurses, especially on certain shifts, get really good at reading the signs in stool.

Yes, as they taught you in school, color and consistency do matter.

Back to the old grind...

Enjoy a long weekend

No, it's not a holiday, but I decided to make it one. Visited a few friends, then the weather changed some of my plans, but here I am, relaxing and now surfing the internet for fun.

I was reading an article which discussed how if James Bond were real, he would be an alcoholic with impotence. I really enjoyed this article, because scientists had to read the Ian Fleming novels and count the quantity of alcohol that 007 drank. According to the books, he even had a DUI with injuries. (Good thing he wasn't looking for car insurance!)

So after that stunning study, there was this article about the real diseases named after literary characters. I had recognized a couple of them, so it was enlightening. I also did not know that the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation did a story in 2012 on favorite fictional nurses.

Finally, two articles stood out about characters. One interesting article was called "You are what you read." The last one is about fictional characters based on real people.

In light of the article "You are what you read", just remember there are some fictional characters you should not emulate.

That is all. TGIF and enjoy your weekend, wherever you are.

Nursery rhyme time

Reading the random stories in the news around the internet made me think of some childhood nursing rhymes.

On again, off again, jiggety jig
Just when you get your stolen motorcycle back, it's stolen again.

Not a rhyme but feeling like a kid
Who would think there is a market for an adult Big Wheel?

Modern times
Kids can now learn to read from a tablet.

Enjoy your adventures wherever you roam! 

On my list...

I enjoyed this article recently on Francis S. Collins.

Doc, you'd be on my chat list!

And probably Aunt Susie's list too. Happy Birthday to my favorite aunt today. Hope you enjoy the book I got signed at MegaConference by this guy.

More to come...

Just what I always wanted!

What would you think if you got this e-mail...(a recent e-mail subject line)

Dermatitis for the iPad

Somehow, I don't think an antivirus would remove that. Yuck!

Back to reading for me...

Fallen

Sometimes, that's what it feels like. With the amount of homework I have, I feel as if I'm under an avalanche of paper.

Only a few more weeks...

In the notes

Since I don't always see everyone in the Hotel in the SU, but I'm still on the team, I have to read the notes to stay current on all the patients we take care of. To do so, I skim the notes.

This was my favorite from one of our consults to audiology (who never tells their patients that they're really in the basement next door and half of them end up in my office...).

"Patient's bilateral ears full of cerumen. Please irrigate and re-consult this service, as testing cannot occur at this time."

Hello?! WT...? Nice. I know the NP who's in charge of ear wax removal, is going to love this one. I'll bet we're not going to send anyone to Ms. Audiology without those Debrox drops first!

Another favorite: we had  a patient who needs a urology service consult while he/she is an in-patient. Patient is leaving for the great Rocky Mountain state next week.

RN in charge of this clinic writes in the consult (for the secretary to schedule):

"Please schedule xx urology procedure at earliest date, as patient to discharge by 5/21."

When does the stellar secretary schedule? Consult read: "Patient scheduled at 0930 on 7/30/12 per request". (head plants firmly in desk)

Urology's idea of urgent, surely isn't mine or this patients,  either.

I only made it halfway through the patients before I had to get away....stay tuned.

No way!

"I can't deny the fact that you like me, right now, you like me!" --Sally Field

Thanks Doc C for inviting me to Public U to read my submission to your poetry journal.

I know it's really because you did your internship here in RehabLand, and if someone decent comes along, you just invite him/her.

Shucks, now I'm just gonna have to tell the boss I have a reading date at PubU that day.

More to come.

Almost over...

Spring Break ends tomorrow for me and Bubba.

It's been an interesting week. Training, appointments and a couple of days of vacation thrown in. Overall, I'm happy, even if I didn't get a week to enjoy with Bubba or to have fun roaming hither and yon at whim like I'm apt to do on staycation.

I've been reading lots. Books, blogs, you name it.

Here's my reading list of the past few days, because tomorrow, it's back to being a grad student in the last part of the semester. No more breaks until May.

Fun books:

CSI by Anthony Zuiker talks about the show of the same name.

Brandwashed by Martin Lindstrom talks about marketing and manipulation. Ah, I get warm fuzzies thinking about my time in the marketing department as a contract worker bee. Such fun with product focus groups!

And even though it might not seem like fun, I really enjoyed Help! for Writers by Roy Peter Clark. I figure it can't hurt with those assignments coming up!

Blogs:

I like to read Doc Grumpy and Nurse K regularly. Two really different points of view, but I enjoy the randomness of things that happen, because that is my life, too. 

Since I had time to meander, I also visited a few blogs I don't normally get to enough. Everyone needs Therapy is an interesting blog and I particularly enjoyed the post on March 18 about Paul Carr and drinking.

At Your Cervix is another blog I pop in and out of intermittently. I like this blog because the author is a student like me.

The snarky ones: FML, Apostrophe Abuse, and my all-time favorite, Passive Aggressive Notes, had a section on Tourist Terrorists in Spain. Just priceless. However, the best of the snarkiness category had to be this entry on the Daddle (with comment) in UHpinions. No, I'm not making this up.

Alas, I'm getting back to a delightful Hefeweizen and getting ready for the week. Can't wait until the next vacation.

Stay tuned...

I'm on vacation...

But my mind drifts, here, there and everywhere.

I talked to one of my former coworkers, who is now a code monkey for a major health system here in RehabLand. Before you know it, I have a contact (actually four) for a project I'm doing at work.

The part I really love about being on vacation: cooking. I cook more when I'm on vacation than any other time. I have time to check my recipe books, plan, shop and actually cook. I've made soups, stews, cakes, pies and all sorts of other goodies while I've been on vacation. I even made my first duck dish.

My absolute favorite thing, though, is actually budgeting time for myself and doing what I plan: exercising and taking long baths. Yes, it may be terrible for the skin, but as Winston Churchill noted to one US president "I have nothing to hide." 

Just let me hide in the bathtub with a good book for a while, and all will be good.

Back to cooking. Bath (and book) to come...

Staycation excitement

It's just Bubba and me celebrating. He's out of school and we're enjoying our time together.

Today, we had to do the playground marathon. We checked out every playground (that wasn't locked up) within three miles and enjoyed the nice, if chilly weather. There were very few other kids out, so Bubba had the playgrounds to himself. It was lots of fun.

After our playground marathon, we went inside to get a hot chocolate, strolled around one of our local malls, and then went to the library. We both got books, came home, and read for the rest of the afternoon.

Bubba said, "This was a really fun day." It surely was!

More to come...