The weather here has been so rainy and icky. I'll tell you what, those who think the weather can't have a negative effect on your moods has no idea what they're talking about. I've only wanted to eat, sleep and work lately. I know I'm excited for Christmas to be over.
I just got off of work and I'm off for the next 5 days for my monthly weekend off. Later today, I will prepare all the food for Saturday and Sunday, mail off one last gift to Dad and see what music is playing later that night. With luck, I'll be able to get some dancing in! Stephen and I are camping at Inks Lake on Saturday and Sunday. I always look forward to spending time with Stephen and the dogs in nature. I'm a bit fearful of the potential cold but we'll live. We did last time when it was in the 30's. This time around we hope to explore the park a little bit more and maybe rent a canoe for a few hours. I've arranged for our typical camping food: Vegan sausages, black bean burgers, hummus on pita, PB and J, Chips, salsa and some other stuff too. I enjoy cooking over the fire! We'll also be packing some margarita mix and tequila! Yeah!
Monday we will come home as Stephen has to work. I'll go dancing at Continental Club with the friendly strangers I dance with every week. Tuesday I will bake for Jim Stringer and his band and for the "Exclusive Fuck You Meat Eaters at Work Vegan Potluck." Yeah, that's a long name but Lana, Laura and I are going to have a veggie feast since our work does nothing for the 10 employees that don't eat meat. It's like, "Here's a veggie tray." Wow, thanks. I'm working on Christmas and I get a fucking veggie tray. Cool.
Otherwise, all is well. Paying my bills, working at a job I love and playing when I can. I wish Stef and I had more time together. We have a trip to Chicago planned for May. I'm anxious to see everyone again. Maybe in March or April I'll come home too. I also need to try to get home for the big July party my parent's have!! Add up them airline miles! Woot!
Friday, December 18, 2009
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Blue Christmas?
Sometimes it is really easy to get down in the dumps. I'm not saying I am there but feel like I could be on my way. I try to maintain a pretty positive attitude towards life and the day to day but sometimes it is easy to let the way others are acting bring you down.
Sigh. I don't know where to start. I'm making a better attempt to finish my Treatment Nurse syllabus by my one year anniversary at the EC. I took home my binder and some "train wreck" flow sheets so I could work on getting those checked off. While doing such, I decided to take a break and look up information on DKA and try to learn more about the disease process. It's a pretty tricky one to understand but it is one of the most common critical cases we see. So much must be done to supplement and support these animals it is unreal. Dextrose, KPhos, KCl, insulin CRI and constant blood glucose checks are required to help these patients. Some are getting their glucose checked every 3-4 hours as that is how quickly their condition can change. I'm not really allowed to monitor these cases on my own as I am not a CCN but I do try to help with them when I can.
There are many things Treatment Nurses are not allowed to do but some do anyways. And honestly, I think there are many different levels of TN. While I feel I am a good tech, I know what I know and more importantly, what I don't know. I'm modest and quick to ask questions when I am even a slight bit uncertain. Many have told me that that is one of the things that makes me a great tech. Great is fine but I want to be the best.....I have a long way to go.
I did monitor Parvo ward on Sunday and boy what was I thinking?! There were three cases in there all of which seemed to be doing fairly well. I learned how quickly that can change. One case started to become critical and I brought it to the doctor's attention right away. It turns out my patient needed new antibiotics and a plasma transfusion. I spent most of my shift in isolation. I felt beat up when I left work that night and even cried a little in my car. I felt so down and it really was hard to explain. The doctor overseeing isolation said I did a really good job tonight. He said I am observant and good at communicating. That made me feel awesome. He also said he admired anyone who oversees Parvo as it is pretty intense patient care. These 3 were smaller and easy to clean up after but the bigger pups with Parvo....oy vey! What a bloody, smelly mess they make sometimes.
So overall, I'm doing ok. I hope this blue feeling I have today passes soon. I'm sure it will, it always does. I'm just trying to not be so sensitive to the way others act sometimes. This is especially so when I know it has nothing to do with me or how they feel about me.
Sigh. I don't know where to start. I'm making a better attempt to finish my Treatment Nurse syllabus by my one year anniversary at the EC. I took home my binder and some "train wreck" flow sheets so I could work on getting those checked off. While doing such, I decided to take a break and look up information on DKA and try to learn more about the disease process. It's a pretty tricky one to understand but it is one of the most common critical cases we see. So much must be done to supplement and support these animals it is unreal. Dextrose, KPhos, KCl, insulin CRI and constant blood glucose checks are required to help these patients. Some are getting their glucose checked every 3-4 hours as that is how quickly their condition can change. I'm not really allowed to monitor these cases on my own as I am not a CCN but I do try to help with them when I can.
There are many things Treatment Nurses are not allowed to do but some do anyways. And honestly, I think there are many different levels of TN. While I feel I am a good tech, I know what I know and more importantly, what I don't know. I'm modest and quick to ask questions when I am even a slight bit uncertain. Many have told me that that is one of the things that makes me a great tech. Great is fine but I want to be the best.....I have a long way to go.
I did monitor Parvo ward on Sunday and boy what was I thinking?! There were three cases in there all of which seemed to be doing fairly well. I learned how quickly that can change. One case started to become critical and I brought it to the doctor's attention right away. It turns out my patient needed new antibiotics and a plasma transfusion. I spent most of my shift in isolation. I felt beat up when I left work that night and even cried a little in my car. I felt so down and it really was hard to explain. The doctor overseeing isolation said I did a really good job tonight. He said I am observant and good at communicating. That made me feel awesome. He also said he admired anyone who oversees Parvo as it is pretty intense patient care. These 3 were smaller and easy to clean up after but the bigger pups with Parvo....oy vey! What a bloody, smelly mess they make sometimes.
So overall, I'm doing ok. I hope this blue feeling I have today passes soon. I'm sure it will, it always does. I'm just trying to not be so sensitive to the way others act sometimes. This is especially so when I know it has nothing to do with me or how they feel about me.
Monday, November 30, 2009
The Worst Animal Abuse Case I've Ever Seen
I don't know how I made it through Thanksgiving week at the EC but I did. What a rough 5 days THAT was!
All I can say is I won't stand for animal abuse of any kind. I won't eat their meat and I especially won't stand for deliberate acts of cruelty on animals no matter what species they are. Yesterday pretty much did me in. Just when you think you've seen a lot.......An ACO (Animal Control Officer) rushed into the tx area and demanded help. She could see were were balls to the wall busy but there was something in her tone that demanded attention. Laura rushed out and much to all of our surprise, she and the ACO carried in a Standard Poodle in a garbage bag on a stretcher. Someone had dumped this animal at TLAC sometime in between the ACO's rounds on the street and at the shelter.
Here in Austin, you can drop your dog off (dead, alive or barely alive) anytime day or night. At night, there isn't anyone there so apparently the animals get passed through a one-way door. The ACO on duty swings by through the night to make sure that there aren't any hurt or critical animals and if there are, they bring them to us for treatment or euthanasia depending on how serious they are. All parvo virus cases are euthanized. They never even get a chance. Anyways, the ACO was driving up to the TLAC building to check on the animals and she saw a big black garbage bag. She told us the thought someone just didn't know where to put their deceased animal and left it there. As she went to move it to the correct place, she said the bag moved and made noises. That's when she noticed someone had dumped a half-dead, very sick poodle at the shelter.
To see this was just mind blowing. Honestly, I burst into tears as they pulled the bag off this animal. He/She was covered in large gaping wounds and bruises. We tried to stabilize and give pain meds prior to assessing but it turns out the dog had a broken neck. So there you have it, some asshole took this dog, put it in a bag with very serious injuries and left it to die. I'm not sure what the intention was exactly or how this dog became injured but our guess is a hit by car (HBC) or attack by dog (ABD). Regardless of the person's intentions, their decision for this animal makes them a cold blooded killer in my eyes. How could you put a LIVE animal in a plastic bag with those injuries and leave it on a Sunday night to suffer? Ugh.
All I can say is I won't stand for animal abuse of any kind. I won't eat their meat and I especially won't stand for deliberate acts of cruelty on animals no matter what species they are. Yesterday pretty much did me in. Just when you think you've seen a lot.......An ACO (Animal Control Officer) rushed into the tx area and demanded help. She could see were were balls to the wall busy but there was something in her tone that demanded attention. Laura rushed out and much to all of our surprise, she and the ACO carried in a Standard Poodle in a garbage bag on a stretcher. Someone had dumped this animal at TLAC sometime in between the ACO's rounds on the street and at the shelter.
Here in Austin, you can drop your dog off (dead, alive or barely alive) anytime day or night. At night, there isn't anyone there so apparently the animals get passed through a one-way door. The ACO on duty swings by through the night to make sure that there aren't any hurt or critical animals and if there are, they bring them to us for treatment or euthanasia depending on how serious they are. All parvo virus cases are euthanized. They never even get a chance. Anyways, the ACO was driving up to the TLAC building to check on the animals and she saw a big black garbage bag. She told us the thought someone just didn't know where to put their deceased animal and left it there. As she went to move it to the correct place, she said the bag moved and made noises. That's when she noticed someone had dumped a half-dead, very sick poodle at the shelter.
To see this was just mind blowing. Honestly, I burst into tears as they pulled the bag off this animal. He/She was covered in large gaping wounds and bruises. We tried to stabilize and give pain meds prior to assessing but it turns out the dog had a broken neck. So there you have it, some asshole took this dog, put it in a bag with very serious injuries and left it to die. I'm not sure what the intention was exactly or how this dog became injured but our guess is a hit by car (HBC) or attack by dog (ABD). Regardless of the person's intentions, their decision for this animal makes them a cold blooded killer in my eyes. How could you put a LIVE animal in a plastic bag with those injuries and leave it on a Sunday night to suffer? Ugh.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
It is Important to Give and to be Thankful Year-Round
So here it is, the day before Thanksgiving and I am preparing to go back to work after having a lovely, relaxing five days off of work. I love my job as my readers know but it sure is nice to get some time away! I feel like I may write that after every 5 days I get off (once a month). This blog started with me watching Keeper, my blind Jack Terrier, scooter her butt across my carpet.....she'd still do it if she COULD see I'm sure. Gracie is asleep in her crate and Jarobie is on the kitchen table in fear of the vacuuming I was just doing. All at the 2200 camp is peaceful.
I have clean scrubs to wear for the next few days and cooked a delicious meal for Chad, Stephen, Laura and myself. Chad and Stephen already ate their share and Laura and I will eat ours at work tomorrow. It kind of sucks that my work doesn't provide some kind of meal for the 8 vegetarians on staff like my old hospital did. That is one thing I miss about CVES. The meal consists of garlic mashed potatoes, sauteed asparagus and a veggie loaf, which in my opinion, tastes a lot like stuffing except it holds the shape of a loaf pan. Stephen said the potatoes are the best he has ever had. He must not get out much...LOL. I also made some cupcakes. They're yellow cake with chocolate fudge frosting and rainbow sprinkles. They're pretty rich!
The next 24 hours are going to be a bit stressful with all the running around and preparation I must do to get to Stephen's cousin's house and then to work. I work until 4 A.M this Morning and have to be to his cousin's by 11 or 12 tomorrow and then back to work by 4 P.M. Of course, I am looking forward to it. I'm sad I won't be at The Serviceman's Dinner in Cary, IL, a family tradition since Aunt Susie passed away in October of 2007. The Serviceman's Dinner is something Susie and my Uncle David were/are very passionate about. Our entire family hosts over 100 sailors from Great Lakes Naval Academy in Northern Illinois for a delicious meal, TV and a visit from Santa. We also provide them with cell phones so they can call their families. It's a nice way to spend a day of thanks. Giving is important especially to those who give so much for us (Servicemen or not).
Yeah, so I'm meeting the parents tomorrow. I found a very cute dress to wear to which Stephen says is not necessary. He doesn't get it.....I'm MEETING HIS PARENTS and I'm in love with their son. Yeah, I dropped the L-bomb. I wasn't expecting this but he is right in every way. I'm really anxious for him to meet my friends and family back in Chicago. We're trying to set a date in April or May. With luck, there's a Cubs vs Astros game at Wrigley at the end of May. Jessie James is getting married the last weekend in May and I will be there then so how perfect would it be for the Astros to be there too?!
What else? Uh, well, we went camping this past weekend at Colorado Bend State Park! Talk about a wonderful weekend away. We spent most of Saturday around the fire and Sunday we hiked to Gorman Falls. The dogs really loved it! Keeper rode in a backpack. Some highlights of the trip included seeing a GIANT armadillo at 2 in the Morning when I woke in the frigid night to pee by the tree, the 10 mile gravel road with free range cattle leading in to the park and of course spending hours sitting around the fire drinking beer and margaritas with my honey. It continues to amaze me by how well we get along. He's really something else. We don't bicker or argue. We seem to compliment each other very well thus far. Here is a picture of me, Stephen, Gracie and Keeper at Gorman Falls in Colorado Bend State Park. It sure was beautiful!
I guess I should shower and run some pre-work errands! Hope everyone has a blessed and wonderful Thanksgiving wherever you spend it.
xoxo
Friday, November 20, 2009
For the LOVE of Greyhounds. Please Read and Repost!
Just a quick note before reading this really important information. Anyone who knows me knows I have loved Greyhounds for a long time! I wanted to adopt one way back when but when I told them I had a young Jack Terrier, the rescue group said they would not adopt one to me. Apparently they can confuse JRTs with rabbits or whatever it is they chase around the track. I would also like to inform those who don't know, Greyhounds are LIFE SAVERS! Many retired racers are blood donors to other dogs who are in dire need. Greyhounds have a high PCV (pack cell volume) and a lot of them are able to donate thanks to their very gentle, mellow nature. Besides all that, many Greyhounds are universal donors!
EVERY ANIMAL DESERVES THE CHANCE AT A WONDERFUL LIFE IN A FOREVER HOME!!! If anyone here in Austin wants to take a road trip to rescue a Greyhound in December, I am totally up for it. I am off the weekend before Christmas.
Attention...the Dairyland Race Track in Kenosha, Wisconsin will be closing on December31, 2009. 900 Greyhounds need to be adopted or they will be euthanized.Please help me get the word out; there is only 6 weeks to get this task done. Contact Joanne Kehoe Operations Director P: 312.559.0887 OrDairyland Race Track Adoption Center direct at (262) 612-8256
PLEASE REPOST THIS EITHER AS A NOTE OR A STATUS UPDATE ON YOUR FACEBOOK, MYSPACE, TWITTER OR BLOG! HELP SAVE THESE DOGS!!
EVERY ANIMAL DESERVES THE CHANCE AT A WONDERFUL LIFE IN A FOREVER HOME!!! If anyone here in Austin wants to take a road trip to rescue a Greyhound in December, I am totally up for it. I am off the weekend before Christmas.
Attention...the Dairyland Race Track in Kenosha, Wisconsin will be closing on December31, 2009. 900 Greyhounds need to be adopted or they will be euthanized.Please help me get the word out; there is only 6 weeks to get this task done. Contact Joanne Kehoe Operations Director P: 312.559.0887 OrDairyland Race Track Adoption Center direct at (262) 612-8256
PLEASE REPOST THIS EITHER AS A NOTE OR A STATUS UPDATE ON YOUR FACEBOOK, MYSPACE, TWITTER OR BLOG! HELP SAVE THESE DOGS!!
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
The World's Smallest Pitty Party
I always get great ideas for blogs as I'm ready to fall asleep at night (or morning, depending on how you look at it). I log on the next day ready to write and I have little to no direction. Sometimes it comes to me and other times I find myself typing endless lines of crap while thinking of other things I should be doing.
So what to report? Life is good. It continues to be good even though I've had a rough few hours here at home. I'm getting a little down on my living situation only because I feel like I'm the only one that puts in to the house. I really miss having a "home." We don't have a couch, I don't have a real bed and well, I just want to WANT to stay at home once in a while. I woke to find a couch in the living room this morning only to discover it smelled of cat urine. I instantly became pissed off and put it back outside. I had a minor pitty party and decided to sweep and vacuum. Of course last night was the topper of everything. While pulling out from an ATM, I didn't realize there was a higher than normal curb and I scratched the very bottom of my brand new car. I jumped out of the car and looked for the damage. I couldn't find any right away as it is pretty unnoticeable from certain angles. Needless to say, I'm feeling very, very upset about that. I've been beating myself up for it since it happened. I'll have to look at it and see what can be done to fix it if anything. I could vomit I'm so upset.
Camping with Stephen was awesome. I'm as head over heels for him as he is for me. Inks Lake was lovely minus the rain! Yes, we camped in the rain. I was able to get a pretty awesome fire going and cooked us a yummy meal. He said at lunch yesterday that dinner was one of his favorite parts. I'm glad I can make him happy on a consistent basis. I think our best is way out in front of us. As we lay in the tent, rain coming down, I looked at him and he looked at me with such contentment. It was an amazing moment that I don't think I'll ever forget. I'll bite my tongue on all the sappy shit for now but just know that I never anticipated feeling this way ever again.
So what to report? Life is good. It continues to be good even though I've had a rough few hours here at home. I'm getting a little down on my living situation only because I feel like I'm the only one that puts in to the house. I really miss having a "home." We don't have a couch, I don't have a real bed and well, I just want to WANT to stay at home once in a while. I woke to find a couch in the living room this morning only to discover it smelled of cat urine. I instantly became pissed off and put it back outside. I had a minor pitty party and decided to sweep and vacuum. Of course last night was the topper of everything. While pulling out from an ATM, I didn't realize there was a higher than normal curb and I scratched the very bottom of my brand new car. I jumped out of the car and looked for the damage. I couldn't find any right away as it is pretty unnoticeable from certain angles. Needless to say, I'm feeling very, very upset about that. I've been beating myself up for it since it happened. I'll have to look at it and see what can be done to fix it if anything. I could vomit I'm so upset.
Camping with Stephen was awesome. I'm as head over heels for him as he is for me. Inks Lake was lovely minus the rain! Yes, we camped in the rain. I was able to get a pretty awesome fire going and cooked us a yummy meal. He said at lunch yesterday that dinner was one of his favorite parts. I'm glad I can make him happy on a consistent basis. I think our best is way out in front of us. As we lay in the tent, rain coming down, I looked at him and he looked at me with such contentment. It was an amazing moment that I don't think I'll ever forget. I'll bite my tongue on all the sappy shit for now but just know that I never anticipated feeling this way ever again.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Trying to Impress My Honey
In an effort to be more domestic, I attempted to cook seitan for Stephen today. I read many different recipes and really took my time preparing it. Well, I think it sucks. It isn't as good as Yummy Yummy's soy gluten and that is what I was aiming for. I guess I'll include it in the veggie stir fry I'm going to make him but won't blame him in the least if he decides to pick around it. Oh the joys of being a vegetarian.
We have an ongoing joke about "fag food." That's what we call a lot of what we eat. I guess if you're reading this and don't really know me, you could find that rather offensive. Rest assured, I mean no malice. We've even gone as far as talking about making a web-based cooking show called, "Fags Like Us- A Vegetarian Cooking Show." I think between the two of us, he is the better cook. He makes the yummiest stuff for me all the time! Though his meals are pretty simple, they are quite tasty. Maybe I'm being too elaborate for my own good. I should thumb through the pages of the new vegetarian cook books my momma got me for my birthday and pick something more simple.
As Katherine said, "Millie, he'll be crazy about you no matter how bad the food tastes." Stef said he agreed whole hearted with K. There's something about Stef that makes me want to take care of him. Maybe because I feel it's a two way street. I'd do just about anything for him and trust him with anything that is mine. I can not wait until our camping trip on Sunday! Just me, him and "our" dogs with a nice camp fire and lots of stars!
We have an ongoing joke about "fag food." That's what we call a lot of what we eat. I guess if you're reading this and don't really know me, you could find that rather offensive. Rest assured, I mean no malice. We've even gone as far as talking about making a web-based cooking show called, "Fags Like Us- A Vegetarian Cooking Show." I think between the two of us, he is the better cook. He makes the yummiest stuff for me all the time! Though his meals are pretty simple, they are quite tasty. Maybe I'm being too elaborate for my own good. I should thumb through the pages of the new vegetarian cook books my momma got me for my birthday and pick something more simple.
As Katherine said, "Millie, he'll be crazy about you no matter how bad the food tastes." Stef said he agreed whole hearted with K. There's something about Stef that makes me want to take care of him. Maybe because I feel it's a two way street. I'd do just about anything for him and trust him with anything that is mine. I can not wait until our camping trip on Sunday! Just me, him and "our" dogs with a nice camp fire and lots of stars!
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