I've been busting it since I got home. I went to Lowe's to get some pool salt. I had to hook up my little dump wagon to my mower. I pulled 4-40 bags of salt from my truck into my wagon. I hauled it around the back. I unloaded it and still have to pull it onto the back porch.
The girlfriend of the backup..in jail..for my pool man..in jail.. was supposed to come over the check my pool. She just called to say she wouldn't get here today. That didn't surprise me. At least she's not in jail...yet.
I started mowing and found that my grass thrower outer on the side of my deck on the mower was bent up so I rigged that as best I could. It took a few tries to get it right.
I did a good bit of the mowing..still have some left. I'll work on it again tomorrow.
& yes I sure know that it is not easy to get help, especially when you need it the most...I could not handle 40# bags....as it is I have 40# bags of potassium chloride delivered regularly & when I have to pick them up to pour into the water softener container, that is tough...
I do see the honeysuckle & is the last pic what you mentioned the magnolia & its banana scent...
Coreen..I can take out another vertebra if I pick up too much weight with my osteoporosis. I can't afford to do that since I already took out three. Can't have any more kyphoplasties or I won't be able to manufactor red blood cells.
And remember I'm out there cripping doing my work. I still have fractures in foot and ankle that haven't healed. I haven't given them any time. Don't have any time.
Oh..and the good news..maybe. The river this morning had gone down a foot. It was supposed to be 7 ft and it was only 6 ft. Now they have moved the crest down to 6.5 instead of 7.8. I think I could drive thru that..but won't.
I'm not ready. I'm staying here but we'll go visit and check it out.
I left all my tax papers out there. I was supposed to have them to my CPA a month before tax day. Oh well..I guess he will have to file for an extension. Do you think the IRS will accept a..I was flooded out..note from NOAA??
I had the fence built..and helped a little..when I put the pool in. The wood from that fence totaled a little Mazda pickup truck I had back then. Not the funny part of the story.
A friend of mine was driving my pickup pulling his dad's long trailer. I thought that men would know what was safe. I was wrong.
The trailer was way too long for my pickup truck and it was loaded down with 10 ft long 2x10s of the rough cut Cyprus. Neither of us had on seat belts. We were only going 40 mph. I had just noticed that we forgot to hookup our seat belts when the trailer took over the driving.
It spun us around several times and rolled us a couple. The trailer and load of lumber landed on top of us. The truck was upside down when I crawled out of the windshield area.
We had picked up a watermelon on the trip and all I can remember of the accident was legs and watermelon and a CB radio tumbling over and over. It was almost amusing.
I broke a rib. That's it. I was more flexible back then. Some couple following us..didn't know them..almost had to be treated for shock just watching the accident unfold.
When I built the fence..the old perv neighbor who lives in the back of it..didn't want me to build it.
I had a cute roommate back then and he was always talking dirty to her. He didn't want that fence..he wanted to be able to watch us swim. That was about 25 years ago when I looked much better.
I built the fence anyway and started in the middle and worked my way in both directions. I wanted to make sure he couldn't see.
Soon after I put up the fence..the old perv planted some Cyprus trees back against his side. They were seedlings that were given out to be planted along the river. The old fart didn't do that..he kept them.
About 13 years ago..a little tornado came thru and knocked down part of that back fence. I had some guys come to put it back up. Those Cyprus trees were so big that they couldn't rebuilt the fence with them in the way. The trees were actually pushing against the fence and the Cyprus knees were also causing damage to it.
The perv threatened my workers. I hired a surveyor to come survey the property. The perv had planted the damn trees on my property so I told my guys to cut them down.
He called the cops and threatened them again. They were too afraid to cut the trees.
The next weekend..a girlfriend of mine and I got our chainsaws.. suited up..put on protective glasses..got on our gloves...and went and sawed down every one of those trees.
The old perv didn't even come out of his house. He knew the two of us bitches were steamed and meant business. It was kinda fun.
I just thought about it this morning. March is "little house" and my 34th year anniversary. Maybe little house arranged for the river to rise so I could come back for a visit. So far..all three of these river rises have just been an inconvenience..thank you God. Nothing serious. Little house even gave me the idea to take those pics yesterday.
I did once think about selling little house but I didn't. Now..the thought of even going into the attic to clean it out..overwhelms me.
Also..like many others..I'm not into change. I've put up with some really crappy things over the years because I don't like change. I've noticed over the years at my different jobs that most people don't like change. Even if you offer a much better way of doing things..they don't want to try them.
Jan..I remember learning about change theory in nursing. Ya know..we learned some pretty interesting things over the years in nursing. The longer I'm involved in my nursing career..the more respect I have for it and what it taught me.
People often say..you should have been a doctor. I say..nope..wouldn't want that. Nursing is different. We see our clients as bio..psycho...social..spiritual..beings. Did I leave anything out Jan?
We were taught things that weren't/aren't included in a medical education.. even though I think they may be trying to do better now. How many docs worry about how much money their patients have to spend on their meds? Not many..if any. And that goes for so many other aspects of the patients life that influences their health.
I think that the actual physical pathology is often the least important part of the patient's problem. You might be able to cut it out or medicate it..but if you don't get to the crux of the problem..it is still there..and something else will just pop up.
That's probably one thing that should be considered in health care reform. So much of what is done for the patient is expensive and useless when what should be done would be more effective and much cheaper. But you have to consider that man is a bio..psycho..social..spiritual being.
And not enough time is taken to get a good history from the patient. It's rush rush rush.
Here's a perfect example: Twenty something years ago TW was complaining of pain in her groin. It involved one butt cheek. I talked her into going to an ortho for an evaluation. I thought something was wrong with her hip.
She went and came home with an order for a CT scan of her back. She told me. I told her they were going after the wrong area. It wasn't sciatica..it was hip pain. Her doc just heard pain involving the butt cheek and thought lumbar spine. He didn't listen well to her symptoms.
Well..since he was her doc..she went for her CT scan. Nothing was there so she just went on with her life. She continued to complain of pain. I kept at her to go back and tell him it was her hip..dummy. She didn't want to spend any more money.
A year later she finally agreed to go back. They did a CT scan of her hip. It was a tumor in her hip joint. They had to remove the joint and clean out the tumor. Good think it was benign or she would be dead. A few more minutes of actual listening would have saved lots of money and time. Fortunately it didn't kill her.
Great pics Carol. Love the gasoline can out front. A nice touch. Your house has changed a lot since I last saw it. I don't think I saw your house the last time I was there (1987 or '88) when I did a presentation of my research for the nurs conf. I think the last time I was at your house was probably about 1980 or 1981. Steve came with me.
Hi Jan. Phew. I was worried. Have a good trip. I forgot about that. I was on such a roll this morning that I'm late getting ready. Hey..they aren't the boss of me. I'll get there when I get there!
When Obama was working on his healthcare reform there was some website that asked for suggestions. I wrote and said I had 40+ years of experience working and pondering healthcare. I'd be glad to help. Noooooo. No one asked. But he did get lots of help from the pharmaceutical and insurance industries. That healthcare reform bill is pure poop.
First..they need to reimburse practitioners for the time it takes to get a good assessment. The most important part of that assessment is a good history. It should precede all other forms of assessment. They may need to retrain some practitioners in how to get a good history.. and how to really listen to the patient.
Practitioners need to get back to basics. Use those physical assessment skills they learned but forgot how to use. Docs have forgotten how to use them because there's always a test they can order to get the same info..but at a tremendous cost and many of those tests expose the patient to bad things..like radiation. Reimburse practitioners for their time with this also.
Practitioners need to pescribe drugs that have been tried and true instead of the hottest thing on the market. Many practitioners have forgotten about those old drugs..the ones that are effective and don't kill people. And no drug co is going to remind them either. No money in it.
The new drugs are very expensive and it may take years to realize how many people they might injure or kill. It's just coming out that the proton pump inhibitors suck the calcium right out of the hip joints making hip fractures a possibility. Those drugs have been around for ages now.
When a pharm co sees their fav/expensive drug getting ready to lose patent..what do they do..they change a molecule or two and put out a new drug that they can charge a fortune for. I could give you a big list of those.
Stop the old peeps from running from doc to doc for their entertainment. I see that all the time. Need some kind of computer program to catch that. Something to alert Medicare that this patient already had 5 ultrasounds. A friend of mine's mom has gone to 5 different docs for the same test. No one has caught that.
These are just a few suggestions I have and with them..I've already saved us all a butt load of money!
And there has to be a mandate for everyone to have insurance. There is with liability insurance on vehicles. If they truly can't afford it..they need some kind of voucher to help with that expense. Some people just don't want to give up any of their salary to pay toward health insurance. They just go to the ER and the rest of us are footing the bill.
People who pay the least..or nothing.. are the most likely to abuse the system. God..have I seen that over and over again. When I worked at a clinic that took Medicaid..we had to put 4 people down for the same appointment because many would not show up..if it was raining..or if they had something better to do..or...they needed a nap.
Most of those same people who had Medicaid also had a cell phone..a nice vehicle..cable TV and better clothes than I wear. Probably from selling drugs.
I'm not for drug testing those people though. Not unless all the politicians are also drug tested.
And another big big thing is..don't let politicians profit from the laws that they make. Stop allowing them to vote and then leave to take a job with a fat salary in the industry that they just voted to help. That's a no brainer!
What prompted me to finally tell them I was taking off for a month...a knife in my back from someone who I trusted..someone who I stuck my neck out for in the past. She didn't deserve my loyalty but maybe God just used her to put the final straw on that camel's back. Maybe I owe her a big thank you for effing me over.
I have no tea leaves as far as what the supremes will do...told you before I read the briefs, believed the media spin that there was no way it would be found unconstitutional...& then listening to the arguments, it would not surprise me at all if they do find it unconstitutional...
If they want to reign in the use of the commerce clause, this could be the case that allows for it... sticking with my 40% chance the challengers win...
Proud of you Carol for telling your boss you want a month off.
Just got online, so will read everything you wrote later. Am watching AI. Good music tonight. Little Hollie is one of my favs. She has an amazing voice for her age. She is 16 or 17. Such a little girl for a big voice.
My city doesn't ever show up on the star map. Don't know why. Maybe it's because I use a Verizon wireless device. I can be on and it says that no one is here.
Jan..I changed to a H2 blocker..ranatidine. I'm scared of the proton pump inhibitors..ie Prilosec et al. Now they say they pull calcium from the hip joints. Old people..especially me.. don't need that.
Jan..just a couple of weeks of the med is no problem..mainly long term use. Also..those proton pump inhibitors usually take over a week to really kick in. H2 blockers work faster.
We are staying at the same motel we stayed at Jan 2 - where I left my plug in for my computer. They still had. I have it now. Now I have 2 of them. That is ok.
Looking back at previous comments - No Carol, you said it well -about nursing. I get frustrated when I work with a family and a 2 + year old is falling behind in speech/language and his doc says "don't worry - he is fine" They don't teach child development in med school. Same thing with breast feeding. Docs know nothing about it unless their wives have breast fed.
news here in OK says Ok is 2nd worst state for women - only one worse is Mississippi. Twice as many women incarcerated as national average. Also 11th in country in women killed by intimate partner - that is a statistic that gets to me. I could have been one of those stats many years ago - if not for 2 docs. So, thank you Dr. Dean and Dr. Hall.
Remember when we developed that normal health class..back in 1976..right after grad school? We had to run to a lot of other disciplines to find our material. It was the toughest class I've ever been involved with.
Carol, some of my best memories involve our adventures together - studying together as undergrads, teaching classes, canoeing, skiing, driving back and forth to Houston, arguing, You spending time with me and Bob and boys. We have had some great times together.
When we covered developmental ages and stages..we included Passages by Gail Sheehy. It covered the predictable crises of adult life. I bought her book again years later. I still have it. It is interesting to read about the predictable crises for your age. I think I'll look up mine for my age now.
Do you remember when we drank tequila shots with your cuz in your aunt's house. I was so sick the next morning and I had to do my presentation in our grad endocrinology class. I was too sick at my stomach to be nervous.
And comparative endocrinology??...for nursing grad students?? That was darn crazy for them to give us that class. And it was the first grad school class we took. After that class...it was all downhill. I'm still an expert in endocrinology. Gees
I am LOL remembering the tequila shots. I cannot drink either. I think I am allergic to alcohol now. I can drink a little wine but no more. I never drink hard liquor any longer. I get a terrible headache and stomach upset. Just not worth it. John does not drink alcohol either. It saves a lot of money.
Those courses at TWU were great. We had good teachers. I loved Endocrinology and Pathophysiology and I had med genetics too. Genetics was great for OB and Peds. You helped me a lot with pathophys. Do you remember our teacher in Patho. I was so distracted watching her that I found my mind wandering. She was a performer too. A good teaching role model.
And Jan..I still remember the tests. They were open book and they were the hardest tests we've ever had. No real way to study. The answers weren't in the book.
I still remember one question. It was something like..given the fact that the melanocyte stimulating hormone functions differently in many species..how would you rename the hormone and why? I think we even got to take that test home.
I would like to have that test back to read it again. I sometimes read stuff I did back then and wonder what genus I was channeling. It certainly wasn't me.
Finally we all revolted and asked why in the hell were we taking a comparative endocrine class?? We weren't studing to be endocrine scientist. I think we had the teacher crying.
Carol, I did not remember that. I remember enjoying the class. I learned so much doing my research paper. I still remember the topic. It was about women who took diethylstilbesterol and their offspring (girls and boys) often developed cancers in the reproductive tracts as young people. When I did my paper, the data was just coming out about young women and then later data started surfacing that young men who were offspring also developed reproductive cancers. Another one of those hideous results of medications. The interesting thing to me about that time is that was when national registries were beginning to be developed for different diseases.
Amazing that you remember her name (Geddes). I don't remember any of their names in Houston except Dr. Steele (my peds teacher). I remember that pink dress Dr. Geddes wore. She had a lot of charisma.
Yeah, I had forgotten the scarfs. Probably right about the thyroid. I do remember she wore high heels without hose. I found that interesting. She was ahead of her time. Back then, it was scandelous to go barer-legged in dressy clothes with high heels. LOL
My endocrine paper was on pheochromocytoma. A very very rare cause of hypertension. Never ran across that one even with my peeps in the joint. Well maybe but I never knew it. It accounts for 1/10 of 1 percent of all hypertensives. I bet no one ever tests for it.
My DIL (the one with breast cancer) had all the symptoms of pheochromocytoma and when I told her - she told her doc and he tested for it - but she just had regular HTN. She is on meds now. I would not have thought of that if not for you and your paper.
No Carol, we were not overeducated -I think some of our Undergrad teachers were undereducated. Dr. Steele was great. She is one of the reasons I am doing the work I do.
The only under grad teacher we had who knew her stuff was Gloria Culpepper. She was amazing clinically. I don't think any of them were very good - maybe except Lynn - in classroom teaching.
We went to undergrad school at Podunk U and then had to go to Texas Woman's University and compete with peeps from all over the country. We showed them. I set the curve in the Patho class.
I remember finding a text in the library that Lynn Wiley was teaching from and after that I aced all of her classes. She taught straight from that book. I remember when I found it - I was so excited.
We always made fun of Marguerite Hall but because of her I was prepared for my grad courses too. I think that our studying together was the most responsible for how we did.
As for humans being assholes - most people will take advantage of any situation that will get them what they want. If the situation does not present itself, some will manipulate their environment to get what they want- no matter who gets hurt. You just have to recognize who those people are and either beat them at their own game or stay out of their way.
Carol, you are great in Patho - and that has served you very well in your career. You were a big help to me in understanding patho. You knew how to explain it too.
Carol, you are great in Patho - and that has served you very well in your career. You were a big help to me in understanding patho. You knew how to explain it too.
I taught both of my grad school clinical profs how to camp and canoe. We went camping on the Guadalupe river in New Braunfels many times.
http://guadaluperiver.com/site/
When we were in a canoe..I took the stern every time. I would usually ask them to quit paddling. Didn't want any mistakes. We never went over. They later went with their husbands. Then..they took a dunking.
It's a good darn thing I'm a happy camper..well..a happy come back homer. If I wasn't I would have been more devastated by something I learned today.
I was seriously disappointed in someone I thought of as a friend. Someone I've stuck my neck out for and gone to bat for when no one else did or would.
Sometimes people just don't fail to disappoint. I was really moved by all the support I got on TM the other day. And those people don't even know me...not really.
Like I said..there's always a reason for everything that happens. Can't always see it at the time but there's a reason. I think one reason was to give me a little shove...in the right direction.
I was pondering this morning..that blogs provide a fairly good option for having a friendship. It ain't like being there but it's very nice.
Jan..our face time as friends didn't even last 10 years..did it? We met in about 69 or so and you guys left before 79. I usually don't do long distance friendships. I kill ya off. But this blog has been a good way to rekindle our friendship.
And getting to know Coreen as a friend. It's really almost as good as being there. We can connect almost every day. That's the important part. And it narrows down the size of the world.
Ya might not find people in your hood that share your interests and values so you have to reach out a little farther.
I thank God for this technology every day and for both of you guys.
And even though we didn't get a lot of face time Jan..it's was a very good face time. And you guys know my motto..quality always out weighs quantity for anything.
And what was interesting was..that for most of my friendships..camping was a part of the right to passage. I dragged just about every good friend I had out camping. It was my connection to God. Nature endorsed that friendship.
I don't know if your remember this..I still do. The time you..and at least one of your boys..and a friend of his..went camping at the Guadalupe. One of my grad school profs and her cardiologist boyfriend came to meet us. He brought some of that wacky weed. Yeap..the cardiologist did. I think that technically made it a prescription so it was OK.
The kids took off or we sent them off and we had a little taste of the poison prescription. We laughed our asses off. We were laughing about nothing when the kids returned. I wonder if they ever caught on?
Do you remember that?
Every time I did the Guadalupe..the smell of that stuff was thick in the air on that river. You didn't need to have any of your own..just take a deep breath.
At work..I bother a lot of people when I get a good assessment on my patients even though I am rushing. They might be in a hurry to do their part of the paperwork and they sometimes forget why we're there and what our mission really is..to provide the very best care for our peeps.
Some of my friends actually say that my peeps are getting better health care than "free" people do. So. They really need it. They will be some of the people who will be a big drain on the health care system. They need the help.
It's hard to convince people that it's saving them money in the long run. Insurance..something we don't have to worry about at my place..even take a long time to recognize what will save them money in the long run.
I remember years back when you had to go in the hospital to get something covered by your insurance. No such thing as outpatient surgery. I had to go in the hospital to get my wisdom teeth removed. I thought that that was so stupid back then. They finally learned that doing things outpatient saved money. They are the last to catch on but now a days..almost everything is outpatient.
When I started in diabetes education.. Medicare didn't want to pay for education. That changed shortly after I started my diabetes ed center. They realized for every dollar they spent educating..there were many dollars saved treating the complications of the disease. Just common sense stuff. But ya know that having common sense is very rare. It should be called "rare sense" instead.
They are looking at a video of Zimmerman to see if he was beaten like he said. I don't buy it.
I had an inmate come in the other day. He had been sent out to the hospital the night before for busting his head from falling.
I saw him the next morning. After examining him..he had a laceration to the back of his head. He had a black eye..and a reddish area around one eye. And a little laceration over the bridge of his nose.
I told them that this wasn't a fall..he was punched several times. He denied it and the security guard with him said no one was in the cell with him.
I said I don't care what either of you guys say..he was punched. Mother Nature knows.
I saw him again a couple of days ago. I got up close to his face and asked..do you promise you weren't punched. He said..I was. I knew it. They often don't want to admit it. It can put them in more danger. An experienced examiner can always tell.
Give me a pic of Zimmerman..his mug shot and I can tell.
Carol, I remember the camping trip on the guadalupe - but don't remember your grad school prof coming. We did that trip just before I left for Montana. Bill was only one with me. Bob and Steve went to Montana a few weeks before me - and Terry was in OK with his granddad. Bill and I picked him up on the way to Montana.
The friend of bill's who went with us was Bobby Craig - Bill and Terry just got in touch with him - he is still in LC. Bill's girlfriend went with us on that weekend. Her name was Lynn. I think Bobby had a girl with him too.
We are in Tulsa now. Got here this morn. I am doomed to leave my stuff wherever we go. I forgot some shirts in the closet in motel in Weatherford. I called them and will pick them up on way back home on Sat. I have enough clothes in my suitcase. I have not told John. He teases me too much so I am not telling him until we are on our way home. John's telephone was running out of juice and started beeping at 2 this morn and woke me up. So could not get back to sleep until about 4. Then woke up at 7:40. So we were running late and I was stressed - At least we are going back through.
So you're pleading the 5th huh Jan? That stuff does cause short term memory loss..I've heard.. but it's been over 30 years??
I definitely remember it was you. Now it could have been another trip that you and I took but I'm pretty sure only one of the boys was with us and his friends. Cindy and her Doc friend just met us there.
I can understand why you might have wanted to repress that memory.
We sent the kids to go wash dishes in the bathroom.
Now..my attorney Coreen.. will tell ya that I have a pretty darn good memory for stuff.
And it doesn't bode well for you that you have left quite a few things in hotels lately. If this goes to court..you might be on the losing end. LOL (place smiley face here)
All it is is that you're not paying attention. I have to make lists and put reminders on my Iphone to keep from forgetting things. If I lose my Iphone..I'm lost.
Broken Arrow was there before you were there Jan. I don't see a star flashing for you. I never have a star flashing for me except if I get on with Iphone or at work.
Jimmy just said what the 3 of us have been saying for the past few seasons. He said it is teenage girls who are voting and they vote for the young guys. He said "we need a little girl power" You go Jimmy.
I think he is not the entertainer the other contestants are. He has a good voice but I think he needs more experience or voice training to be where the others are.
Some of the things you bring up from those days brings back a memory and sometimes it is like "where was 1" because I just don't remember it. I do remember when you and I were finishing our degrees in Houston, we went on a camping trip with your prof - and it seems her boyfriend came. We were all sitting in a tent and they had some weed and we were all trying it and I remember thinking "oh God, this could be a baaad thing" I have always been fearful of getting into trouble. That is until I went to Austin and..... If we ever get together I will tell you some tales. And I regret nothing.
One of the interesting things about this dream study we are doing is that Jung has said in his reading that many mental illnesses - especially depression and neuroses come from repressed material that becomes our "shadow" and this repressed material comes out in our dreams. If we can figure out these repressions and face these issues that are usually fears in our lives, we can be much healthier physically and mentally.
There is a statistics page on the blog. I'm not sure if you can get to it but maybe you can. It shows what brings people to our blog. Right now it is the pics Coreen put up for Easter.
Chloe's post on Fat Butts can be healthy pulls the most people in.
Carol, LOL your last comment. I think you were much more aware of your fears than I have been of mine. I am more aware of mine NOW. I think the selective memory that you say I have - is there for a reason.
Well..I popped awake. I know I don't have to go to work tomorrow so it doesn't bother me not to get much sleep. I'll work..but I'll do it over the phone. Telemed usually involves a TV but mine involves the Iphone. I'll call it Iphonomed. My Iphone is full of EKG pics and pics of lots of gross stuff. I could download a dermatology book from my Iphone.
Today I got in several more peeps with diabetes. I could fill up one of our pods with just people with diabetes. I wish we could do that. Then I could train security.. on that pod.. on how the monitor peeps with diabetes. We do have a glucose monitor available and glucose gel to treat hypoglycemia for when the nurses aren't there.
Our place is big enough that we really need round the clock medical and an infirmary. Only thing is..I'd get tons more calls at night. I haven't pushed it. Places our size usually have at least a couple more docs or NPs and a whole lot more nurses.
Well..one of the diabetics I got in today weighed almost 400 pounds. His blood sugar was over 500. He was only on oral meds..that was like pissing on a bonfire to put it out.
He's only in on something minor so he shouldn't be in for long. I told him that God sent him to me so I could save his life!
He's a patient at the local charity hospital..the hospital that employs me. His doc is usually a pretty good doc. I think part of the problem in that he's poor and can't afford the meds he needs.
I pulled the lab that was done on him recently and his HA1C..a test that measures his average BS over the last three months..it was 15+ which represents an average blood sugar of over 400.
His doc also did a microalbumin on his urine. It was in the thousands..which tells us he's a big risk for renal failure. His dad died of renal failure.
Well..you know that he was right up my alley. I started him on an insulin dose and started in on education on what he was up against. He was paying attention.
I used my usual eye catching techniques for getting his attention. I gently let them know that dead would be his best option but it was the alternatives that were killer. Had him picturing himself in a wheelchair..blind..and hooked up to a dialysis machine. That usually makes them more attentive. I don't have time to be too gentle.
This guy represents one of the reasons that I've let myself get rooked into not taking much time off or getting away from being on call.
I hate to have to say it but...there aren't too many people who really give a damn about my peeps.
I hear it pouring outside. I hope my river isn't noticing. There was a 50% chance of rain today.
We're up to 182 comments. Anyone have a post idea? Coreen..you can put some rabbit ears on the kitties and stuff them in a basket for an Easter post. Unless of course..you would like to see some gross dermatology pics. Better start herding up the kitties.
182 comments:
Home again...
pic #1 little house on the prairie
pic #2 trusty truck and golf cart
pic# 3 branch of the old Live Oak tree
pic #4 Old Live Oak
pic #5 Old Live Oak
pic #6 fence line..kept overgrown for bunnies
pic #7 Mayhaws
pic #8 honeysuckle
pic #9 blooms on my satsuma bush
I took these pics with my Iphone while mowing. I don't find the Iphone pics very good.
I've been busting it since I got home. I went to Lowe's to get some pool salt. I had to hook up my little dump wagon to my mower. I pulled 4-40 bags of salt from my truck into my wagon. I hauled it around the back. I unloaded it and still have to pull it onto the back porch.
The girlfriend of the backup..in jail..for my pool man..in jail.. was supposed to come over the check my pool. She just called to say she wouldn't get here today. That didn't surprise me. At least she's not in jail...yet.
I started mowing and found that my grass thrower outer on the side of my deck on the mower was bent up so I rigged that as best I could. It took a few tries to get it right.
I did a good bit of the mowing..still have some left. I'll work on it again tomorrow.
I took pics and downloaded them. Phew!
As you can see I have quite a bit to take care of. And..as you can see..it ain't easy to find good help.
Pure DWTS was very critical of the judges scoring last night.
http://www.puredwts.com/
As you may have noticed I haven't had my fence repaired since hurricane Rita.
You really need help there...
& yes I sure know that it is not
easy to get help, especially when you need it the most...I could not
handle 40# bags....as it is I have
40# bags of potassium chloride delivered regularly & when I have to pick them up to pour into the
water softener container, that is
tough...
I do see the honeysuckle & is the last pic what you mentioned the magnolia & its banana scent...
The last pic is one of my huge satsuma trees packed with blooms. I hope they don't fall off.
I've had hundreds of satsumas on just one trees. They are better than oranges.
Under all that brush..flowers..vines..in pic 6 is a 6 ft rough cut Cyprus fence.
There's the Mayhaws..grapevines..Wisteria..climbing roses..honeysuckle..just to name some of what's on that fence.
Funny story about that fence.. Tell ya later.
Coreen..I can take out another vertebra if I pick up too much weight with my osteoporosis. I can't afford to do that since I already took out three. Can't have any more kyphoplasties or I won't be able to manufactor red blood cells.
And remember I'm out there cripping doing my work. I still have fractures in foot and ankle that haven't healed. I haven't given them any time. Don't have any time.
Coreen..Pa taught me if you aren't strong..you get a bigger..or longer tool to help. Sometimes..I can't pick up the tool.
Coreen.. our long drought made our Wisteria kinda poor this year. It just finished blooming and was pretty pathetic.
Even my Magnolia Fiscata trees were looking pretty poor. They did have flowers and did filled the yard with a nice aroma.
I had more pics but got tired of uploading them.
Oh..and the good news..maybe. The river this morning had gone down a foot. It was supposed to be 7 ft and it was only 6 ft. Now they have moved the crest down to 6.5 instead of 7.8. I think I could drive thru that..but won't.
I'm not ready. I'm staying here but we'll go visit and check it out.
I left all my tax papers out there. I was supposed to have them to my CPA a month before tax day. Oh well..I guess he will have to file for an extension. Do you think the IRS will accept a..I was flooded out..note from NOAA??
Well..the DWTS outcome was pretty predictable.
The fence story..
I had the fence built..and helped a little..when I put the pool in. The wood from that fence totaled a little Mazda pickup truck I had back then. Not the funny part of the story.
A friend of mine was driving my pickup pulling his dad's long trailer. I thought that men would know what was safe. I was wrong.
The trailer was way too long for my pickup truck and it was loaded down with 10 ft long 2x10s of the rough cut Cyprus. Neither of us had on seat belts. We were only going 40 mph. I had just noticed that we forgot to hookup our seat belts when the trailer took over the driving.
It spun us around several times and rolled us a couple. The trailer and load of lumber landed on top of us. The truck was upside down when I crawled out of the windshield area.
We had picked up a watermelon on the trip and all I can remember of the accident was legs and watermelon and a CB radio tumbling over and over. It was almost amusing.
I broke a rib. That's it. I was more flexible back then. Some couple following us..didn't know them..almost had to be treated for shock just watching the accident unfold.
When I built the fence..the old perv neighbor who lives in the back of it..didn't want me to build it.
I had a cute roommate back then and he was always talking dirty to her. He didn't want that fence..he wanted to be able to watch us swim. That was about 25 years ago when I looked much better.
I built the fence anyway and started in the middle and worked my way in both directions. I wanted to make sure he couldn't see.
Soon after I put up the fence..the old perv planted some Cyprus trees back against his side. They were seedlings that were given out to be planted along the river. The old fart didn't do that..he kept them.
About 13 years ago..a little tornado came thru and knocked down part of that back fence. I had some guys come to put it back up. Those Cyprus trees were so big that they couldn't rebuilt the fence with them in the way. The trees were actually pushing against the fence and the Cyprus knees were also causing damage to it.
The perv threatened my workers. I hired a surveyor to come survey the property. The perv had planted the damn trees on my property so I told my guys to cut them down.
He called the cops and threatened them again. They were too afraid to cut the trees.
The next weekend..a girlfriend of mine and I got our chainsaws.. suited up..put on protective glasses..got on our gloves...and went and sawed down every one of those trees.
The old perv didn't even come out of his house. He knew the two of us bitches were steamed and meant business. It was kinda fun.
Those Mayhaws are little berries that grow on trees around these parts. Many grow along the banks of the river.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayhaw
People will go out in their boats and pick bucket loads of them and make Mayhaw jelly. My daddy used to make it. Ya can't taste a better jelly.
I just thought about it this morning. March is "little house" and my 34th year anniversary. Maybe little house arranged for the river to rise so I could come back for a visit. So far..all three of these river rises have just been an inconvenience..thank you God. Nothing serious. Little house even gave me the idea to take those pics yesterday.
I did once think about selling little house but I didn't. Now..the thought of even going into the attic to clean it out..overwhelms me.
Also..like many others..I'm not into change. I've put up with some really crappy things over the years because I don't like change. I've noticed over the years at my different jobs that most people don't like change. Even if you offer a much better way of doing things..they don't want to try them.
Jan..I remember learning about change theory in nursing. Ya know..we learned some pretty interesting things over the years in nursing. The longer I'm involved in my nursing career..the more respect I have for it and what it taught me.
People often say..you should have been a doctor. I say..nope..wouldn't want that. Nursing is different. We see our clients as bio..psycho...social..spiritual..beings. Did I leave anything out Jan?
We were taught things that weren't/aren't included in a medical education.. even though I think they may be trying to do better now. How many docs worry about how much money their patients have to spend on their meds? Not many..if any. And that goes for so many other aspects of the patients life that influences their health.
I think that the actual physical pathology is often the least important part of the patient's problem. You might be able to cut it out or medicate it..but if you don't get to the crux of the problem..it is still there..and something else will just pop up.
Hope everything is OK with you Jan. Not usual for you not to pop in at least once..and on a DWTS day??
That's probably one thing that should be considered in health care reform. So much of what is done for the patient is expensive and useless when what should be done would be more effective and much cheaper. But you have to consider that man is a bio..psycho..social..spiritual being.
Love your story of the cyprus trees. I can just see you cutting down the trees. Too funny. Some people can be such s***S.
I have been trying to finish taxes so we can leave this morning - and working. It always gets busiest before I go on a trip.
Going to Ok and ARk to take care of bidness (as a friend of mine from Ala used to say.
Taking the 'puter with me so will be able to talk,
I sort of hated to see Martina be the first to get kicked off but she just did not do well.
I taped the show and just watched the end after I got finished with all my chores.
And not enough time is taken to get a good history from the patient. It's rush rush rush.
Here's a perfect example: Twenty something years ago TW was complaining of pain in her groin. It involved one butt cheek. I talked her into going to an ortho for an evaluation. I thought something was wrong with her hip.
She went and came home with an order for a CT scan of her back. She told me. I told her they were going after the wrong area. It wasn't sciatica..it was hip pain. Her doc just heard pain involving the butt cheek and thought lumbar spine. He didn't listen well to her symptoms.
Well..since he was her doc..she went for her CT scan. Nothing was there so she just went on with her life. She continued to complain of pain. I kept at her to go back and tell him it was her hip..dummy. She didn't want to spend any more money.
A year later she finally agreed to go back. They did a CT scan of her hip. It was a tumor in her hip joint. They had to remove the joint and clean out the tumor. Good think it was benign or she would be dead. A few more minutes of actual listening would have saved lots of money and time. Fortunately it didn't kill her.
When it come to healthcare..we will continue to do the same old wrong things..over and over..even if it kills us all.
Great pics Carol. Love the gasoline can out front. A nice touch. Your house has changed a lot since I last saw it. I don't think I saw your house the last time I was there (1987 or '88) when I did a presentation of my research for the nurs conf. I think the last time I was at your house was probably about 1980 or 1981. Steve came with me.
I don't remember your house being blue - thought it was white then.
I don't remember your house being blue - thought it was white then.
But when it comes to cost...It won't kill us fast enough!
Hi Carol,
Gotta go pack.
Hi Jan. Phew. I was worried. Have a good trip. I forgot about that. I was on such a roll this morning that I'm late getting ready. Hey..they aren't the boss of me. I'll get there when I get there!
When Obama was working on his healthcare reform there was some website that asked for suggestions. I wrote and said I had 40+ years of experience working and pondering healthcare. I'd be glad to help. Noooooo. No one asked. But he did get lots of help from the pharmaceutical and insurance industries. That healthcare reform bill is pure poop.
And do you know what is the crux of most people's medical problems??????
A MISERABLE LIFE!
Just called my boss and told them I needed a month off ASAP. He's going to work on it. Phew!
Now..getting into health care reform.
First..they need to reimburse practitioners for the time it takes to get a good assessment. The most important part of that assessment is a good history. It should precede all other forms of assessment. They may need to retrain some practitioners in how to get a good history.. and how to really listen to the patient.
Practitioners need to get back to basics. Use those physical assessment skills they learned but forgot how to use. Docs have forgotten how to use them because there's always a test they can order to get the same info..but at a tremendous cost and many of those tests expose the patient to bad things..like radiation. Reimburse practitioners for their time with this also.
Practitioners need to pescribe drugs that have been tried and true instead of the hottest thing on the market. Many practitioners have forgotten about those old drugs..the ones that are effective and don't kill people. And no drug co is going to remind them either. No money in it.
The new drugs are very expensive and it may take years to realize how many people they might injure or kill. It's just coming out that the proton pump inhibitors suck the calcium right out of the hip joints making hip fractures a possibility. Those drugs have been around for ages now.
When a pharm co sees their fav/expensive drug getting ready to lose patent..what do they do..they change a molecule or two and put out a new drug that they can charge a fortune for. I could give you a big list of those.
Stop the old peeps from running from doc to doc for their entertainment. I see that all the time. Need some kind of computer program to catch that. Something to alert Medicare that this patient already had 5 ultrasounds. A friend of mine's mom has gone to 5 different docs for the same test. No one has caught that.
These are just a few suggestions I have and with them..I've already saved us all a butt load of money!
And there has to be a mandate for everyone to have insurance. There is with liability insurance on vehicles. If they truly can't afford it..they need some kind of voucher to help with that expense. Some people just don't want to give up any of their salary to pay toward health insurance. They just go to the ER and the rest of us are footing the bill.
People who pay the least..or nothing.. are the most likely to abuse the system. God..have I seen that over and over again. When I worked at a clinic that took Medicaid..we had to put 4 people down for the same appointment because many would not show up..if it was raining..or if they had something better to do..or...they needed a nap.
Most of those same people who had Medicaid also had a cell phone..a nice vehicle..cable TV and better clothes than I wear. Probably from selling drugs.
I'm not for drug testing those people though. Not unless all the politicians are also drug tested.
Something here at this house is frightening Maggie. No bad weather. Maybe it's a ghost.
And another big big thing is..don't let politicians profit from the laws that they make. Stop allowing them to vote and then leave to take a job with a fat salary in the industry that they just voted to help. That's a no brainer!
Medicare for all is a good idea as long as all the problems with Medicare are fixed.
More good news...the river has crested at 6 ft..not the 6.5 they moved it down to yesterday. It is on it's way down now.
Stevie Nicks on Idol tonight. Whoopee!
What prompted me to finally tell them I was taking off for a month...a knife in my back from someone who I trusted..someone who I stuck my neck out for in the past. She didn't deserve my loyalty but maybe God just used her to put the final straw on that camel's back. Maybe I owe her a big thank you for effing me over.
Coreen..do you know where Jan is settling in at tonight? Okie or Ark?
Great music on Idol. I'm jamming.
Coreen..let me know how the Supremes are doing with Obamacare.
Did you go home early today....
Guessing that the work environment is not improving...
Seems lots of little things are working to get you toward your next
life move...
just remember do it on your terms
not on someone elses...
Not sure where Jan was going, I think she said Ark, but it could have been Ok...not even sure if they were driving or flying...
No Coreen..I worked all day but I come home for lunch most every day. I have to get out of the place for my sanity.
I have no tea leaves as far as what the supremes will do...told
you before I read the briefs, believed the media spin that there was no way it would be
found unconstitutional...& then listening to the arguments, it would not surprise me at all if they do find it unconstitutional...
If they want to reign in the use of the commerce clause, this could be the case that allows for it...
sticking with my 40% chance the challengers win...
Coreen..I really haven't had a day off and it will be 7 years on Saturday.
I work almost as hard on my days off as I do when I'm at work. Every holiday..weekend day..or any other day I take off.
I'm exhausted.
I've told them I need a break from call..no one listens. As long as I keep doing it..they'll keep letting me. I'm the fool here.
I do it for my patients and my nurses but I can't anymore. I'm sure they will all survive but if I don't get a break..I won't.
...in Weatherford OK tonight. We drove.
Proud of you Carol for telling your boss you want a month off.
Just got online, so will read everything you wrote later. Am watching AI. Good music tonight. Little Hollie is one of my favs. She has an amazing voice for her age. She is 16 or 17. Such a little girl for a big voice.
Oh Dear, I could not get the comment to post so hit button too many times. So sorry!
There is definitely a delay here from time I hit return botton on the publish your comment - and the time it takes for it to show up.
I just looked back and Jan said she was going to Tulsa then Ark. She was bringing her computer.
DeAndrea has too much falsetto for me.
However, the judges seem to like it.
Carol, I see you on here. I wonder if you can see what I am writing.
Your right Jan.
I deleted the extra comments.
What do you mean..you can see me?
Carol, John takes Omeprezol every day -until I told him a few days ago about the side effects. He has taken a couple this week. What do you think?
I see your comments.
My city doesn't ever show up on the star map. Don't know why. Maybe it's because I use a Verizon wireless device. I can be on and it says that no one is here.
I saw a comment you just made in between several of mine.
Have not looked at the map of stars.
Jan..I changed to a H2 blocker..ranatidine. I'm scared of the proton pump inhibitors..ie Prilosec et al. Now they say they pull calcium from the hip joints. Old people..especially me.. don't need that.
"Use of proton pump inhibitors and risk of osteoporosis-related fractures"
http://www.canadianmedicaljournal.ca/content/179/4/319.full
mainly long term use.
Your star is not showing up this time. How are you connected?
Jan..just a couple of weeks of the med is no problem..mainly long term use. Also..those proton pump inhibitors usually take over a week to really kick in. H2 blockers work faster.
Coreen..thanks for the update on the Supremes.
The singers this year are great.
I agree Carol.
We are staying at the same motel we stayed at Jan 2 - where I left my plug in for my computer. They still had. I have it now. Now I have 2 of them. That is ok.
Singing Madonna.
This is the best singing I've ever heard on Idol but I'm relatively new to it.
This is the best talent I have seen on AI to date.
John sees his doc in April. I am going to have him discuss this with him.
Do your own research Jan. Please. Use good sites. Hate to say it and it doesn't always apply but docs are often the least informed.
Damn..Elise is doing Led Zeppelin.
Nobody to vote off tonight.
Tomato woman said when that song came out Elise was -14 years old.
I do the research and share with John, but he wants to talk with his doc about it. I am the messenger Carol.
I started voting online. So much easier. I voted for Elise, Joshua, Hollie & Jessica.
Looking back at previous comments - No Carol, you said it well -about nursing. I get frustrated when I work with a family and a 2 + year old is falling behind in speech/language and his doc says "don't worry - he is fine" They don't teach child development in med school. Same thing with breast feeding. Docs know nothing about it unless their wives have breast fed.
Jan..did I miss anything in the bio..psycho..et al??
If I had a nickel for every nursing curriculum I worked on...
news here in OK says Ok is 2nd worst state for women - only one worse is Mississippi. Twice as many women incarcerated as national average. Also 11th in country in women killed by intimate partner - that is a statistic that gets to me. I could have been one of those stats many years ago - if not for 2 docs. So, thank you Dr. Dean and Dr. Hall.
yes Carol, that is the comment you made that I am referring to.
Remember when we developed that normal health class..back in 1976..right after grad school? We had to run to a lot of other disciplines to find our material. It was the toughest class I've ever been involved with.
I am watching OK news - in OK.
Carol, one of most fun to teach - for me.
I don't ever want to work on another nursing curriculum. Been there, done that too many times. I think it is a huge waste of faculty time.
Carol, any news of Joshua Ledet in your area. He is still my favorite.
Carol, some of my best memories involve our adventures together - studying together as undergrads, teaching classes, canoeing, skiing, driving back and forth to Houston, arguing, You spending time with me and Bob and boys. We have had some great times together.
When we covered developmental ages and stages..we included Passages by Gail Sheehy. It covered the predictable crises of adult life. I bought her book again years later. I still have it. It is interesting to read about the predictable crises for your age. I think I'll look up mine for my age now.
Do you remember when we drank tequila shots with your cuz in your aunt's house. I was so sick the next morning and I had to do my presentation in our grad endocrinology class. I was too sick at my stomach to be nervous.
Haven't heard anything about Joshua this week. Too much other crap going on.
I remember that -some of my favorite content. Since then I have taught Growth and Development to undergrads and it is one of my fav courses to teach.
Oh yes I remember. Tequilla..salt and then a bite of lime. And then a severe headache the next day. It might be why I can't drink to this day.
I couldn't keep my chair from spinning in class the next day. I really felt sorry for you.
I am in the same time zone with you Carol & Coreen for tonight and until we are back home on Sunday. It is great.
And comparative endocrinology??...for nursing grad students?? That was darn crazy for them to give us that class. And it was the first grad school class we took. After that class...it was all downhill. I'm still an expert in endocrinology. Gees
My endocrinologist..who saw me for my hyperthyroidism..was one of my nursing students. He told me I probably knew as much as he did about the subject.
I am LOL remembering the tequila shots. I cannot drink either. I think I am allergic to alcohol now. I can drink a little wine but no more. I never drink hard liquor any longer. I get a terrible headache and stomach upset. Just not worth it. John does not drink alcohol either. It saves a lot of money.
Your nurs student went on to med school?
Those courses at TWU were great. We had good teachers. I loved Endocrinology and Pathophysiology and I had med genetics too. Genetics was great for OB and Peds. You helped me a lot with pathophys. Do you remember our teacher in Patho. I was so distracted watching her that I found my mind wandering. She was a performer too. A good teaching role model.
And Jan..I still remember the tests. They were open book and they were the hardest tests we've ever had. No real way to study. The answers weren't in the book.
I still remember one question. It was something like..given the fact that the melanocyte stimulating hormone functions differently in many species..how would you rename the hormone and why? I think we even got to take that test home.
I would like to have that test back to read it again. I sometimes read stuff I did back then and wonder what genus I was channeling. It certainly wasn't me.
Finally we all revolted and asked why in the hell were we taking a comparative endocrine class?? We weren't studing to be endocrine scientist. I think we had the teacher crying.
After that..our teacher tried to make the class more appropriate for a nursing class..with humans. I didn't give a damn about frogs.
Yes Jan..our Patho teacher was Dr Geddes. She was the most impressive teacher I've ever had. I wanted to be like her.
I enjoyed watching her strut across the room with her scarf spouting out her brilliance.
I had fun trying to test the depths of her knowledge by asking her the most difficult question I could think of. She always knew the answer.
I got my karma for that. My students sometimes did that to me. I always prepared hard for my lectures. I knew that was coming.
Carol, I did not remember that. I remember enjoying the class. I learned so much doing my research paper. I still remember the topic. It was about women who took diethylstilbesterol and their offspring (girls and boys) often developed cancers in the reproductive tracts as young people. When I did my paper, the data was just coming out about young women and then later data started surfacing that young men who were offspring also developed reproductive cancers. Another one of those hideous results of medications. The interesting thing to me about that time is that was when national registries were beginning to be developed for different diseases.
Amazing that you remember her name (Geddes). I don't remember any of their names in Houston except Dr. Steele (my peds teacher). I remember that pink dress Dr. Geddes wore. She had a lot of charisma.
Carol, I remember you tested several of our teachers. You were fun to be in class with. Never knew what to expect.
Do you remember that she always wore a scarf? We figured she might have had a thyroidectomy and needed to hide the scar.
Pathophysiology was my very fav subject.
Yeah, I had forgotten the scarfs. Probably right about the thyroid. I do remember she wore high heels without hose. I found that interesting. She was ahead of her time. Back then, it was scandelous to go barer-legged in dressy clothes with high heels. LOL
My endocrine paper was on pheochromocytoma. A very very rare cause of hypertension. Never ran across that one even with my peeps in the joint. Well maybe but I never knew it. It accounts for 1/10 of 1 percent of all hypertensives. I bet no one ever tests for it.
ha ha - meant bare-legged.
I think we were over educated Jan.
My DIL (the one with breast cancer) had all the symptoms of pheochromocytoma and when I told her - she told her doc and he tested for it - but she just had regular HTN. She is on meds now. I would not have thought of that if not for you and your paper.
w
Oops.
What I really need to understand is why some human being are such assholes.
No Carol, we were not overeducated -I think some of our Undergrad teachers were undereducated. Dr. Steele was great. She is one of the reasons I am doing the work I do.
The only under grad teacher we had who knew her stuff was Gloria Culpepper. She was amazing clinically. I don't think any of them were very good - maybe except Lynn - in classroom teaching.
We went to undergrad school at Podunk U and then had to go to Texas Woman's University and compete with peeps from all over the country. We showed them. I set the curve in the Patho class.
I remember finding a text in the library that Lynn Wiley was teaching from and after that I aced all of her classes. She taught straight from that book. I remember when I found it - I was so excited.
Remember..we taught ourselves in undergrad school. We knew we had to.
We always made fun of Marguerite Hall but because of her I was prepared for my grad courses too. I think that our studying together was the most responsible for how we did.
As for humans being assholes - most people will take advantage of any situation that will get them what they want. If the situation does not present itself, some will manipulate their environment to get what they want- no matter who gets hurt. You just have to recognize who those people are and either beat them at their own game or stay out of their way.
Carol, you are great in Patho - and that has served you very well in your career. You were a big help to me in understanding patho. You knew how to explain it too.
Carol, you are great in Patho - and that has served you very well in your career. You were a big help to me in understanding patho. You knew how to explain it too.
Whoops. did it again
I taught both of my grad school clinical profs how to camp and canoe. We went camping on the Guadalupe river in New Braunfels many times.
http://guadaluperiver.com/site/
When we were in a canoe..I took the stern every time. I would usually ask them to quit paddling. Didn't want any mistakes. We never went over. They later went with their husbands. Then..they took a dunking.
Did not get much sleep last night - always happens when going on a trip. so I am off to bed.
Yep..I took you and some of your boys also. That was fun. I
Nite..it was fun reminiscing.
Guadalupe was lots of fun. While in Austin, rafted several times - but only conoed with you Carol. Never knew any one else who did that. Good times!
Good night.
I enjoyed it too Carol. I would love another raft trip. I like rafting better than canoeing.
It's a good darn thing I'm a happy camper..well..a happy come back homer. If I wasn't I would have been more devastated by something I learned today.
I was seriously disappointed in someone I thought of as a friend. Someone I've stuck my neck out for and gone to bat for when no one else did or would.
Sometimes people just don't fail to disappoint. I was really moved by all the support I got on TM the other day. And those people don't even know me...not really.
Like I said..there's always a reason for everything that happens. Can't always see it at the time but there's a reason. I think one reason was to give me a little shove...in the right direction.
I asked God for a sign. I think I got one.
I was pondering this morning..that blogs provide a fairly good option for having a friendship. It ain't like being there but it's very nice.
Jan..our face time as friends didn't even last 10 years..did it? We met in about 69 or so and you guys left before 79. I usually don't do long distance friendships. I kill ya off. But this blog has been a good way to rekindle our friendship.
And getting to know Coreen as a friend. It's really almost as good as being there. We can connect almost every day. That's the important part. And it narrows down the size of the world.
Ya might not find people in your hood that share your interests and values so you have to reach out a little farther.
I thank God for this technology every day and for both of you guys.
And even though we didn't get a lot of face time Jan..it's was a very good face time. And you guys know my motto..quality always out weighs quantity for anything.
And what was interesting was..that for most of my friendships..camping was a part of the right to passage. I dragged just about every good friend I had out camping. It was my connection to God. Nature endorsed that friendship.
I don't know if your remember this..I still do. The time you..and at least one of your boys..and a friend of his..went camping at the Guadalupe. One of my grad school profs and her cardiologist boyfriend came to meet us. He brought some of that wacky weed. Yeap..the cardiologist did. I think that technically made it a prescription so it was OK.
The kids took off or we sent them off and we had a little taste of the poison prescription. We laughed our asses off. We were laughing about nothing when the kids returned. I wonder if they ever caught on?
Do you remember that?
Every time I did the Guadalupe..the smell of that stuff was thick in the air on that river. You didn't need to have any of your own..just take a deep breath.
At work..I bother a lot of people when I get a good assessment on my patients even though I am rushing. They might be in a hurry to do their part of the paperwork and they sometimes forget why we're there and what our mission really is..to provide the very best care for our peeps.
Some of my friends actually say that my peeps are getting better health care than "free" people do. So. They really need it. They will be some of the people who will be a big drain on the health care system. They need the help.
It's hard to convince people that it's saving them money in the long run. Insurance..something we don't have to worry about at my place..even take a long time to recognize what will save them money in the long run.
I remember years back when you had to go in the hospital to get something covered by your insurance. No such thing as outpatient surgery. I had to go in the hospital to get my wisdom teeth removed. I thought that that was so stupid back then. They finally learned that doing things outpatient saved money. They are the last to catch on but now a days..almost everything is outpatient.
When I started in diabetes education.. Medicare didn't want to pay for education. That changed shortly after I started my diabetes ed center. They realized for every dollar they spent educating..there were many dollars saved treating the complications of the disease. Just common sense stuff. But ya know that having common sense is very rare. It should be called "rare sense" instead.
They are looking at a video of Zimmerman to see if he was beaten like he said. I don't buy it.
I had an inmate come in the other day. He had been sent out to the hospital the night before for busting his head from falling.
I saw him the next morning. After examining him..he had a laceration to the back of his head. He had a black eye..and a reddish area around one eye. And a little laceration over the bridge of his nose.
I told them that this wasn't a fall..he was punched several times. He denied it and the security guard with him said no one was in the cell with him.
I said I don't care what either of you guys say..he was punched. Mother Nature knows.
I saw him again a couple of days ago. I got up close to his face and asked..do you promise you weren't punched. He said..I was. I knew it. They often don't want to admit it. It can put them in more danger. An experienced examiner can always tell.
Give me a pic of Zimmerman..his mug shot and I can tell.
Carol, I remember the camping trip on the guadalupe - but don't remember your grad school prof coming. We did that trip just before I left for Montana. Bill was only one with me. Bob and Steve went to Montana a few weeks before me - and Terry was in OK with his granddad. Bill and I picked him up on the way to Montana.
The friend of bill's who went with us was Bobby Craig - Bill and Terry just got in touch with him - he is still in LC. Bill's girlfriend went with us on that weekend. Her name was Lynn. I think Bobby had a girl with him too.
We are in Tulsa now. Got here this morn. I am doomed to leave my stuff wherever we go. I forgot some shirts in the closet in motel in Weatherford. I called them and will pick them up on way back home on Sat. I have enough clothes in my suitcase. I have not told John. He teases me too much so I am not telling him until we are on our way home. John's telephone was running out of juice and started beeping at 2 this morn and woke me up. So could not get back to sleep until about 4. Then woke up at 7:40. So we were running late and I was stressed - At least we are going back through.
So you're pleading the 5th huh Jan? That stuff does cause short term memory loss..I've heard.. but it's been over 30 years??
I definitely remember it was you. Now it could have been another trip that you and I took but I'm pretty sure only one of the boys was with us and his friends. Cindy and her Doc friend just met us there.
I can understand why you might have wanted to repress that memory.
We sent the kids to go wash dishes in the bathroom.
Now..my attorney Coreen.. will tell ya that I have a pretty darn good memory for stuff.
And it doesn't bode well for you that you have left quite a few things in hotels lately. If this goes to court..you might be on the losing end. LOL (place smiley face here)
I just looked at the map with all the stars. I don't see Tulsa but I do see Broken Arrow - that is just a few miles down the road.
Watching AI. I do not know who this band is. Starships? The singer is evidently a bleached blonde with a dark tan.
I was not looking forward to this trip - a working trip. I need to figure out how to cut down on these trips.
Yes Carol, I do not know what is going on with me and leaving things in motels. I will be 71 in about 2 weeks - I definitely am more forgetful lately.
All it is is that you're not paying attention. I have to make lists and put reminders on my Iphone to keep from forgetting things. If I lose my Iphone..I'm lost.
Broken Arrow was there before you were there Jan. I don't see a star flashing for you. I never have a star flashing for me except if I get on with Iphone or at work.
Not everyone will show up on that map.
It's interesting that you remember things about our past that I don't until you mention them. It takes both of us to come up with a complete memory.
I just pulled up the blog on Iphone and it doesn't show up either. Maybe it is delayed.
Are you watching AI. It's on.
I don't want any of these kids to leave the show.
Tulsa just popped up on the map.
Carol, I am watching AI too. They are all good. I think Heejun is the weakest link though.
Jimmy just said what the 3 of us have been saying for the past few seasons. He said it is teenage girls who are voting and they vote for the young guys. He said "we need a little girl power" You go Jimmy.
yep and I just turned on my computer.
They just sent Skyler to safety. Good for her.
Great! Holly is safe. Heejun is singing for his life. I don't think the judges will save him.
Heejun is out.
Just saw the Tulsa star. Hi there Carol and I hope Coreen (I see 3 are one here).
Maybe the judges will save him??
I can tell by the looks on their faces - they are going to cut him loose.
He is a neat young man and I love his voice, but I don't think he really took this seriously or he just did not want it as much as the others.
Do you think it has anything to do with his look?
Do you ever watch this show "Touch" I have watched it once and liked it.
I think he is not the entertainer the other contestants are. He has a good voice but I think he needs more experience or voice training to be where the others are.
Some of the things you bring up from those days brings back a memory and sometimes it is like "where was 1" because I just don't remember it. I do remember when you and I were finishing our degrees in Houston, we went on a camping trip with your prof - and it seems her boyfriend came. We were all sitting in a tent and they had some weed and we were all trying it and I remember thinking "oh God, this could be a baaad thing" I have always been fearful of getting into trouble. That is until I went to Austin and..... If we ever get together I will tell you some tales. And I regret nothing.
Austin is a very cool place. I had a friend who had friends in Austin and I went quite a few times with her.
I'm taking off tomorrow. I have some things to do in Pa's hometown. It's not going to be a pleasant task. I don't want to discuss it on the blog.
One of the interesting things about this dream study we are doing is that Jung has said in his reading that many mental illnesses - especially depression and neuroses come from repressed material that becomes our "shadow" and this repressed material comes out in our dreams. If we can figure out these repressions and face these issues that are usually fears in our lives, we can be much healthier physically and mentally.
I understand. If you want to talk, call or e-mail me.
You both have email..
There is a statistics page on the blog. I'm not sure if you can get to it but maybe you can. It shows what brings people to our blog. Right now it is the pics Coreen put up for Easter.
Chloe's post on Fat Butts can be healthy pulls the most people in.
Jan. I just don't remember enough if any of my dreams. I guess I'll just have to live with my crazy.
Carol, LOL your last comment. I think you were much more aware of your fears than I have been of mine. I am more aware of mine NOW. I think the selective memory that you say I have - is there for a reason.
Carol, be careful tomorrow.
Signing off for tonight - need to do a little more work on taxes. Sweet dreams.
Jan..I think that everyone is aware of my fears. I'm pretty open about them.
Well..I popped awake. I know I don't have to go to work tomorrow so it doesn't bother me not to get much sleep. I'll work..but I'll do it over the phone. Telemed usually involves a TV but mine involves the Iphone. I'll call it Iphonomed. My Iphone is full of EKG pics and pics of lots of gross stuff. I could download a dermatology book from my Iphone.
Today I got in several more peeps with diabetes. I could fill up one of our pods with just people with diabetes. I wish we could do that. Then I could train security.. on that pod.. on how the monitor peeps with diabetes. We do have a glucose monitor available and glucose gel to treat hypoglycemia for when the nurses aren't there.
Our place is big enough that we really need round the clock medical and an infirmary. Only thing is..I'd get tons more calls at night. I haven't pushed it. Places our size usually have at least a couple more docs or NPs and a whole lot more nurses.
Well..one of the diabetics I got in today weighed almost 400 pounds. His blood sugar was over 500. He was only on oral meds..that was like pissing on a bonfire to put it out.
He's only in on something minor so he shouldn't be in for long. I told him that God sent him to me so I could save his life!
He's a patient at the local charity hospital..the hospital that employs me. His doc is usually a pretty good doc. I think part of the problem in that he's poor and can't afford the meds he needs.
I pulled the lab that was done on him recently and his HA1C..a test that measures his average BS over the last three months..it was 15+ which represents an average blood sugar of over 400.
His doc also did a microalbumin on his urine. It was in the thousands..which tells us he's a big risk for renal failure. His dad died of renal failure.
Well..you know that he was right up my alley. I started him on an insulin dose and started in on education on what he was up against. He was paying attention.
I used my usual eye catching techniques for getting his attention. I gently let them know that dead would be his best option but it was the alternatives that were killer. Had him picturing himself in a wheelchair..blind..and hooked up to a dialysis machine. That usually makes them more attentive. I don't have time to be too gentle.
This guy represents one of the reasons that I've let myself get rooked into not taking much time off or getting away from being on call.
I hate to have to say it but...there aren't too many people who really give a damn about my peeps.
I hear it pouring outside. I hope my river isn't noticing. There was a 50% chance of rain today.
We're up to 182 comments. Anyone have a post idea? Coreen..you can put some rabbit ears on the kitties and stuff them in a basket for an Easter post. Unless of course..you would like to see some gross dermatology pics. Better start herding up the kitties.
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