Consequences

While working last weekend, there was a multiple car pile up on a bridge a few miles from the hospital. I helped take care of many of the patients, and one in particular stuck out to me.

We just got an email from our professor letting us know that an employee at the hospital where we have clinicals was killed that night. I had spent some time with her in clinical, and it's awful to know that she isn't ever going to be there again. While reading the news article, I recognized the name of the driver who struck her as the patient who stuck out to me. It's weird to know that I took care of him before he knew the full consequences of that accident. He knew she was dead, but he is just now seeing that her husband and young child no longer have a wife and mother.

I wish things like this didn't happen, and I especially wish I could do something more about it when it does.

My thoughts and prayers are with both the hospital employee's family and the patient that I took care of. This is a struggle for all of them.

The ULTIMATE RickRoll!

Just saw this on RT 101's blog. Rick Astley himself showed up in the middle of the Macy's Day Parade today and Rickrolled the entire viewing audience - 50 million people or so. Bloody brilliant!



I want to know who greenlighted this, and I want to give them a hug. Especially since my own attempt at a Rickroll probably suckered what, like five people?

***
And since today is Thanksgiving, I feel compelled to share with you my favorite holiday tradition. Every year, my family sits around and listens to Arlo Guthrie's song Alice's Restaurant Massacree. Clocking in at a whopping 18+ minutes, this song is glorious. Have a listen, and you can enjoy it too. It's worth it!

nursing shortage?

So, I'm a little frustrated. I had been told that a position as an RN would be held for me in the ER at the hospital I want to work at. Since I did my externship there, I had a little bit of extra experience and the administration seemed to want me. So I applied a few months ago, I a few weeks ago got the bad news that there weren't any more openings for new graduates.

Disappointing, but not really a deal breaker. I don't expect the world to revolve around me, and I know that admin will hire more experienced nurses now rather than hire new grads later. It's business.

I got the call from HR telling me about this dilemma, and was set up with an interview in tele instead. I interviewed with tele last week, and it went really well. I was told that I would get a call back this week.

I haven't gotten a call. A friend of mine, who also interviewed on tele, got a call today in which she was told that the unit manager "decided there weren't any more openings after all, and already had everything filled." I'm expecting the same phone call to me at some point today, but it's 3:00 and they better damn sure step on it. If I'm going to be disappointed, I don't like to wait around for it.

This is a bit of a rant, but I'm feeling like this hospital is acting more and more unprofessional. Don't promise a dang job if you aren't going to provide one. Don't tell me you'll call and then don't. Don't have me interview for a position that arbitrarily isn't available anymore.

Even worse is that I've signed a 1 year contract with this hospital in exchange for a scholarship grant. I get 4 grand, they get a year of work from me. I'm starting to see that it's a bit of a tourist trap...sign up, and we'll promise you the job you want and then shuffle you off to med-surg where you'll probably want to kill yourself. I wonder if I have to pay back the money if I accidentally fall down the tube system or something? At any rate, I'm feeling annoyed enough to consider running to Canada with their money. Can't work for you if you can't find me, suckahs.

I've applied other places, but so far haven't heard anything good. I sort of want to crawl under a rock right now, and come out in 6 months when some jobs have hopefully opened up. Meegh. Hopefully I'll hear some semblance of good news soon; all this bad news is starting to make me cranky.

21

A year ago today, Sean Taylor was shot. A year ago tomorrow, the Redskins lost a team member.



We miss you, 21.

The Year of Living Biblically

I bought a new book today, because I have less than a month of school left and dang it, I want some new leisure reading! While perusing the shelves of B&N with my friend KL, I spotted what I instantly sensed to be an excellent book. The phrase "don't judge a book by it's cover?" It applies to many things in life, but often not actually books. If the text was half as good as the cover, I knew I was in for a tasty treat:


I promised myself that I wouldn't read the entire thing in one sitting, like I usually do. I decided to only read the introduction for now. So I'm three pages into it, and I've already laughed out loud multiple times, forced my roommate to listen to passages, and ruminated on possible blog posts. I'm having trouble deciding which tidbit I want to share with you; they're all so good!

I'll share this one, for starters: (Appropriate, since it is the start of the book)

"As I write this, I have a beard that makes me resemble Moses. Or Abe Lincoln. Or Ted Kaczynski. I've been called all three.

It's not a well manicured, socially acceptable beard. It's an untamed mass that creeps up toward my eyeballs and drapes below my neckline...I've suffered for my beard. It's been caught in jacket zippers and been tugged on by my surprisingly strong two-year-old son. I've spent a lot of time answering questions at airport security.

I've been asked if I'm named Smith and sell cough drops with my brother. ZZ Top is mentioned at least three times a week. Passerby have shouted "Yo, Gandalf!" Someone called me Steven Seagal, which I found curious since he doesn't have a beard.

I've battled itch and heat. I've spent a week's salary on balms, powders, ointments, and contitioners. My beard has become a temporary home to cappuchino foam and lentil soup. And it's upset people. Thus far, two little girls have burst into tears and one boy has hidden behind his mother.

But I mean no harm."

This book is going to be excellent. Be expecting multiple blog posts, friend. They will be witty. They will be wild. Oh yes. Get excited.

***
On a very exciting side note, I took the HESI practice NCLEX exam this morning...and scored awesome! I know there is a ton of stuff I need to review, but this was a super duper morale booster. I haven't studied at all yet and still passed with room to spare, so I'm a little less terrified for the NCLEX. Woohoo nursing license, here I come!

And graduation is so close I can taste it. I'm going to be a nurse. Life is good.

NRD positive

I've been suffering from a conglomeration of symptoms for a long time. I can quote movies like a champ, read an 800 page novel in one sitting, and reference fantastical characters in almost any conversation. I've been suspicious about these symptoms, and finally determined the cause! It's true: I'm NRD positive. A recent DNA test showed that I have the occasional genetic mutation where my base pairs of A-T and G-C are replaced with N-E and R-D. I'm glad I finally have an answer for why I'm so uncontrollably dorky.

And speaking of nerdiness, I went to see the Twilight movie this weekend with my friend Kaley. It was the most cheesetastically awful movie I've seen in a long time, and I'm slightly embarrassed to admit that I kind of loved it. From the power ranger special effects to the Bonne Bell glitter (original witty remark provided by Kaley) make up to the clunky acting, I loved it.

I think this is because I'm genetically unable to dislike anything nerdy. By all rights I should have been disowning this terrible movie, but somehow I can't. This movie bypassed "bad movie" and went straight to "so awful it's awesome," and I can't do anything but like it.

Not gonna lie, I'll definitely own this on DVD when it comes out, and I might even see it again in theatres. Kaley, you doing anything this weekend?

****
And guess what?! The new GnR album is out...was I too young to appreciate the original glory that was Appetite for Destruction and Use Your Illusion? Yes. Did I make up for lost time? You betcha. Have I already bought Chinese Democracy? Hell yeah!

It's a trap!

Yet another reason why Star Wars and Robot Chicken are awesome.

Excellent.

Seven Quirks

Ah ha! I've been blog-tagged by Drew and Drea for a game of Seven Quirks! I know the proper term for a blog-tag is "meme," but I don't have the faintest idea of how to pronounce that word. Thus, blog-tag it shall be.

My Seven Quirks:

1. I am the master of all things original Star Wars trilogy. I'm not kidding when I say I can recite the entire trilogy from memory. I know the name of every actor. I know the filming location for every scene in the movie. I desperately wish I had a lightsaber. I can tell you the manufacturing companies for an X-Wing, name you more than one Ewok (though I actually despise the things), and explain why exactly Mos Eisley is the most wretched hive of scum and villany around. I can also explain why I didn't have any friends in middle school.
2. Spelling. Few things bother me more than spotting blatant spelling errors in various documents. I can understand typing fast and - oops, you wrote "form" instead of "from." But when spellcheck gives you the convenient little red squiggle, please fix that word. Also, I'm such a spelling and grammar hawk that I can't even stand to abbreviate for text messages. If I send you a text message, you better believe that sucker will be grammatically perfect. If I have to sacrifice vital content just to write out words, so be it.
3. Just wait your turn! It annoys the crap out of me when people interrupt me. Heck, it even annoys the crap out of me when I interrupt other people. If you interrupt, I'll let it slide the first time or two. You will then get a glare 'o death for the next occurence. If it happens again, snarky comments might fly. You've been warned. And please keep me accountable when I interrupt you, because interrupting is just a rude thing to do. On a side note, this is very similar to the "Me-Monster" phenomenon, where someone tells a story and the next person has to jump right in (interrupting if necessary) to tell a bigger and better story.
4. I love driving by myself. If given the choice of carpooling or spending my own gas money to get there, I'll take the solo option every time. I know exactly why this is: I'm an awful backseat driver, and I love to turn the tunes up and sing. Loudly and way offkey. I try not to subject people to my double-checking of merges or requests to slow down, and I definitely avoid the risk of permanent ear damage associated with my singing.
5. I really don't like people touching my head. I think this stems from having curly hair. Most people enjoy having their hair played with, and will sit close to you with the hope that you'll start braiding it or something. Me? Not so much. If someone ran their fingers through my hair, I would end up looking like Jon Bon Jovi circa Livin' on a Prayer. Since I've tried to avoid looking like a bad 80's band, over time that dislike of hair touching has expanded to include my entire head.
6. I fall asleep on the nearest flat surface after every holiday dinner. My family can attest to this. Thanksgiving: 3:00, sit down for dinner. 4:30, finish dinner. 4:40, lay down on the floor in front of the TV and close my eyes "just for a few minutes." I'm out for at least an hour. It never fails.
7. I can't stand chick flicks. As a female, I feel like I'm betraying my species by saying this. But I just can't help it! I'd much rather watch a movie where things blow up, people get punched, buildings fall down, and cars drive really fast. If someone in the movie has a superpower, that movie just catapulted itself to my shortlist of favorites. Except for Spiderman. He's kind of a crybaby, and not worthy of my man-movie love.

So there you go! I tag the Fabo, Nursing and Nonsense, and Tara - even though I doubt she will comply. After all, she doesn't even reply to emails! :)

cold

This certainly has been a very craptastic week, to say the least.

I love the ER. I love working in a chaotic, bloody, life-or-death trauma. It gets me going, it makes me focus and still see the big picture, it makes me a little giddy when I know something big is coming in. Blood, guts, and gore...you name it, I like it.

I never really stop to think about the people behind those traumas, though. I see their families just outside the curtains, and when the patients don't make it I do feel that loss inside. It's even worse when the patients are kids. But I'm always able to push it away and focus on the job at hand.

Then I get the news yesterday that one of my favorite teachers from high school was in a bad car accident. T-boned by a truck, flown to Shock Trauma, massive injuries, critical condition. And it got me thinking.

I have never truly stopped to think about how a great day for me in the ER is a devastating day for someone else. When I have the super exciting code to work on, someone else is losing a father, a husband, a son. When I have the ATV accident with brains spattered from here to Minnesota, someone else is losing a child, a new spouse, a brand new daddy. When I have the senior weeker who fell off the building, someone else gets the call that their daughter isn't going to make it.

I have never felt more guilty for loving what I do, and the career I will have in 5 short weeks. I hate that it took this beloved teacher getting into a car accident she most likely isn't going to survive to make me reflect on this. I hate that I can feel so guilty about loving traumas, and still look forward to going into work tomorrow.

Does this make me heartless?

It's Saturday, and it's raining

A conglomeration of remotely interesting (or not) topics:

• This Eyeballing game is the most addicting game EVER. Coming from a girl with a low time of 89 seconds on expert level Minesweeper, this is quite the achievement. It also means that I'm procrastinating like a champ today.
• I worked as a tech for the first time last night, and it was both good and bad: refreshing to be back in a familiar place with great staff, but alarming how much I had forgotten in the three months I've been out.
• Super Mario has long been the standard of video games. But what if it was The People's Mario instead? Clicky linky, and find out.
  
• I have a 6-8 page ethics paper due Monday morning. Risk for crappily written ethics paper r/t discovery of addicting eyeballing game, aeb high scores of 2.9.
• I have a boatload of psych paperwork due Monday morning, and lots to do for Leadership too. I would say I strongly despise the amount of work I have to do, but I'm so apathetic at this point it's hard to work up the necessary hateful energy.
• I can't even imagine the terror this pilot must have experienced. He had a stroke during a solo flight and lost all visual ability, and only landed with the help of other pilots who verbally directed him step-by-step to land. His ordeal makes my worst days seem like cake.
• I like cake.
• Also impressive is this jogger who ran a mile with a rabid fox attached to her arm by a fangy death grip. I wonder what was going through her head during that mile? If she can run a 6 minute mile, I guess it wouldn't be too bad. With the shape I'm in though, that mile would take me at least 15 minutes, and that's a lot of time for panic.
• And oh yeah, you just got Rickrolled.
  

That's all I've got for you, folks.

::edit::
Okay, I lied - I have one more thing for you. Check out the awesomeness of this literal version of Take On Me!



And that is all, I swear.

new job

I'm starting a new job tonight, as a patient care tech in the ER where I live. Wish me luck!

History

Whatever your views are regarding our new President, there is one thing we can be certain of: we have witnessed history on November 4, 2008, and it represents a huge step forward for our country.

From the 1500s, our country had slaves. Stolen from their lands and then brought up through the generations, black men and women weren't even viewed as people. Often treated lower than animals, it wasn't until the Civil Rights movement of the 1950's and 60's that black people were considered for equal rights. Granted the ability to vote was ratified in 1870, but it took the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to ensure that the theoretical ability to vote matched the reality.

Consider all of this. And then look at where we are. From a history of treating the black citizens of America as lower than low, we finally moved to true equal voting rights in 1965. It is now 43 years later, and our country has gone from denying even the most basic of rights to putting a black man into arguably the most powerful position in the world by way of that same voting process.

All I can say is this: It's about time.

This is a day that I will always remember. I was a part of history, and that is a proud feeling. My grandparents watched a man walk on the moon, and now my parents and I can share a part in this shattering of a too-long-standing divide.

Barack Obama is President!

“If there is anyone out there who doubts that America is a place where anything is possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer."

I am proud to be an American, and proud to have Barack Obama as our President.

Ben & Jerry's

I'll preface this post by letting it be known that when presented with a pint of Ben&Jerry's fabulous ice cream, I will not hesitate to devour the entire thing in one sitting. It's that good.

With that said, check this out:

When asked about what he would put into a Jon Stewart Ben&Jerry's ice cream flavor, Stephen Colbert responded with this:
"It would be a very short pint. It would be gummy bears and matzah, and be called Chewy Jewy."

























I'd buy that ice cream, fo' sho'.