Brian Regan. Funny. Watch it.
Go ahead, merge.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Hearts
A patient I was taking care of recently asked me how long I had been a nurse. I most always try to downplay the question because sometimes people get uneasy with an unexperienced nurse - and sometimes rightfully so. Usually I'll tell people, "I've been here almost a year," which while is completely true, sort of sounds like I've worked somewhere else, too. Most people are satisfied with that answer; some are not. This patient was of the latter group, and asked me when I graduated school. I told her and then waited for the inevitable comment about the obvious new nurse-ness, something glaringly obvious that I missed which pegged me as inexperienced, or even something negative.
Instead of something negative, she mentioned that I had been very sweet to her, and remarked that even with my new nurse-ness, she appreciated the care I had given. She mentioned how a lot of her nurses had been crusty and mean and impatient, but that I had been very pleasant and willing to listen to her complaints. I thanked her, then jokingly replied that I haven't been a nurse long enough to be heartless yet.
She says, "you nurses never lose your hearts, you just learn to protect them better."
A very interesting perspective, I must say.
Instead of something negative, she mentioned that I had been very sweet to her, and remarked that even with my new nurse-ness, she appreciated the care I had given. She mentioned how a lot of her nurses had been crusty and mean and impatient, but that I had been very pleasant and willing to listen to her complaints. I thanked her, then jokingly replied that I haven't been a nurse long enough to be heartless yet.
She says, "you nurses never lose your hearts, you just learn to protect them better."
A very interesting perspective, I must say.
Physics is fun!
The LHC is back up and running! I was excited about this a year ago when I blogged about it, and I'm still excited. Mainly because I'm a giant nerd, but also because it's really cool.
Beams of protons circulating at nearly the speed of light and then smashing into each other? Awesome. Learning more about the Big Bang (or Horrendous Space Kablooie, if you will)? Awesome! Giant superconducting magnets operating at almost absolute zero? 0°Kelvin? -459°F? Um, awesome!
But I digress. And even if you're not interested in any of this, I'm sure you'll be interested to know that even with the powering up of the LHC and the potential black holes created and subsequent end of the world, we can check to make sure we're okay with just one little clicky.
Go ahead. Clicky Linky.
Beams of protons circulating at nearly the speed of light and then smashing into each other? Awesome. Learning more about the Big Bang (or Horrendous Space Kablooie, if you will)? Awesome! Giant superconducting magnets operating at almost absolute zero? 0°Kelvin? -459°F? Um, awesome!
But I digress. And even if you're not interested in any of this, I'm sure you'll be interested to know that even with the powering up of the LHC and the potential black holes created and subsequent end of the world, we can check to make sure we're okay with just one little clicky.
Go ahead. Clicky Linky.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
I can die happy
I saw Star Wars in Concert tonight.
Star Wars. Big Screen. Lasers. Full Orchestra. Anthony Daniels in person!
Sweet mother it was awesome. It was 24 years of Nerd-dom finally come to fruition. It was glorious!
You're jealous, I know. Or maybe not. I don't care either way, because I saw it and it was awesome and if I kick the bucket tonight, I'll die happy!
You want some more? Okay. I can't resist anyway...
Star Wars. Big Screen. Lasers. Full Orchestra. Anthony Daniels in person!
Sweet mother it was awesome. It was 24 years of Nerd-dom finally come to fruition. It was glorious!
You're jealous, I know. Or maybe not. I don't care either way, because I saw it and it was awesome and if I kick the bucket tonight, I'll die happy!
You want some more? Okay. I can't resist anyway...
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Somebody get this girl her kidneys!
I am shamelessly reposting this from Movin' Meat because It. Is. EPIC!
-The boy in bed twelve ate pop rocks and coke.
-F**K! We don't have much time!
We've lost them. All of them.
This is so glorious I watched it multiple times. And then a few more. Thanks, Shadowfax.
-The boy in bed twelve ate pop rocks and coke.
-F**K! We don't have much time!
We've lost them. All of them.
This is so glorious I watched it multiple times. And then a few more. Thanks, Shadowfax.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Cause?
New(er than me) Nurse: Her sats were 95% room air earlier in the day, and then just a few hours later they were 60% on a mask and she had to come here. Her lungs were clear on the first check, can sats really drop that fast?
Old Grizzled Nurse: Depends on how heavy the pillow is.
I almost choked on my chicken noodle soup. I love night shift.
Old Grizzled Nurse: Depends on how heavy the pillow is.
I almost choked on my chicken noodle soup. I love night shift.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Shrtstormtrooper, the Barbarian
Sometimes it's hard to watch tv marathons throughout the night without getting crazy ideas. It's even harder when the marathon show in question is Mythbusters.
I stayed up late tonight so I could sleep most of the day today, and of course I ended up staying up all night. Fortunately Discovery Channel had a Mythbusters marathon on. Usually Adam and Jamie admonish us with the warning of "don't try this at home!" but today they encouraged me to go ahead and try. And who am I to argue such scientific reasoning?
The myth in question was whether or not two intertwined phone books (no glue, no rope, no brace of any sort) with actually hold themselves together against a lot of force. For the record, they can withstand 8000 lbs of pressure. In case you wanted to know.
A little side challenge is what piqued my interest, though. Can you rip a phone book in half? Surely not! Ah, but wait, says Adam. I followed his directions. I found a phone book in my drawer. And BOOM. Look what I can do!
I feel like the Hulk!
I stayed up late tonight so I could sleep most of the day today, and of course I ended up staying up all night. Fortunately Discovery Channel had a Mythbusters marathon on. Usually Adam and Jamie admonish us with the warning of "don't try this at home!" but today they encouraged me to go ahead and try. And who am I to argue such scientific reasoning?
The myth in question was whether or not two intertwined phone books (no glue, no rope, no brace of any sort) with actually hold themselves together against a lot of force. For the record, they can withstand 8000 lbs of pressure. In case you wanted to know.
A little side challenge is what piqued my interest, though. Can you rip a phone book in half? Surely not! Ah, but wait, says Adam. I followed his directions. I found a phone book in my drawer. And BOOM. Look what I can do!
I feel like the Hulk!
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Excuse me while I whip this out
While sitting through a staff meeting today and listening to the management discuss the changes to come, this is all I could think of:
Methinks it's pretty close to the truth...
Methinks it's pretty close to the truth...
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Deep rooted issues?
I had wickedly crooked teeth as a kid, and my parents forked out the money to get me braces. Which is something I'll be eternally grateful for, without a doubt. Unfortunately, visiting the dentist once a month for two years has left me with an ever growing fear of that metal instrument-welding spawn of Satan.
Well, maybe "Spawn of Satan" is too harsh. My dentist was actually a super nice guy, and I went to him (very sporadically) even after I turned 18 and was too old to go there because he still gave me stickers and a new packet of floss each time. I even went back to his office to get XRays for both of my wisdom teeth removal adventures.
Somehow though, through the years of endless fittings and metal mouth and snapped wires and bleeding gums and wisdom teeth removals, I've slowly become terrified of going to the dentist. I'm not really sure why; I think it might be the sounds and the smells and the tastes and the dislike of having someones fingers in your maw and then they ask you a question and chuckle when you "aaahh mmmnnnii eehh" your Baleen whale response. So really, it's everything.
Thus, I haven't been to the dentist in years. I've lost track, but I think it's probably 4 or 5 years since I've gotten a flouride treatment, good cleaning, or filling. Even the thought of sitting in that chair gives me chills now. I am seriously scared to go see one. Like, numbing, paralyzing fear. I can't even watch oral surgery on tv, and I normally love blood and guts and gore and watching those televised OR cases.
Today, while brushing (and flossing, thank you very much) I was pondering the state of my teeth and decided that I really do need to see a dentist. I'm 24 years old, own a new car, rent my own apartment, have a career-type job, and pay for my own health insurance. I should be old enough to make my own dental appointment, one would think. So I gave myself a long pep talk about the benefits and necessity of regular exams. I thought of my friend AB from nursing school who is also a dental hygienist, who reminds me often that I need to get my butt in gear. I thought of the likely cavities lurking in my mouth, and how I don't want my teeth to fall out and I should take care of myself better. Man up, I told myself.
Seriously, my pep talk lasted a good 20 minutes. I finally Googled some dentists around here, picked a decent looking one, and held my cell phone with the number dialed in for a solid five minutes before I pressed send.
It rang, and rang. And rang.
And then it dawned on me.
Today is Sunday.
Sunday.
Frick.
It might take me another year or two to work up the courage to try again...
Well, maybe "Spawn of Satan" is too harsh. My dentist was actually a super nice guy, and I went to him (very sporadically) even after I turned 18 and was too old to go there because he still gave me stickers and a new packet of floss each time. I even went back to his office to get XRays for both of my wisdom teeth removal adventures.
Somehow though, through the years of endless fittings and metal mouth and snapped wires and bleeding gums and wisdom teeth removals, I've slowly become terrified of going to the dentist. I'm not really sure why; I think it might be the sounds and the smells and the tastes and the dislike of having someones fingers in your maw and then they ask you a question and chuckle when you "aaahh mmmnnnii eehh" your Baleen whale response. So really, it's everything.
Thus, I haven't been to the dentist in years. I've lost track, but I think it's probably 4 or 5 years since I've gotten a flouride treatment, good cleaning, or filling. Even the thought of sitting in that chair gives me chills now. I am seriously scared to go see one. Like, numbing, paralyzing fear. I can't even watch oral surgery on tv, and I normally love blood and guts and gore and watching those televised OR cases.
Today, while brushing (and flossing, thank you very much) I was pondering the state of my teeth and decided that I really do need to see a dentist. I'm 24 years old, own a new car, rent my own apartment, have a career-type job, and pay for my own health insurance. I should be old enough to make my own dental appointment, one would think. So I gave myself a long pep talk about the benefits and necessity of regular exams. I thought of my friend AB from nursing school who is also a dental hygienist, who reminds me often that I need to get my butt in gear. I thought of the likely cavities lurking in my mouth, and how I don't want my teeth to fall out and I should take care of myself better. Man up, I told myself.
Seriously, my pep talk lasted a good 20 minutes. I finally Googled some dentists around here, picked a decent looking one, and held my cell phone with the number dialed in for a solid five minutes before I pressed send.
It rang, and rang. And rang.
And then it dawned on me.
Today is Sunday.
Sunday.
Frick.
It might take me another year or two to work up the courage to try again...
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
"Lando gave some tips while we were talking..."
OH SWEET MOTHER THIS IS GLORIOUS!
So glorious it deserves an all-caps introduction!
So glorious it deserves an all-caps introduction!
Monday, November 2, 2009
Halloween
Halloween night in the ER is always an interesting time, I've heard.
And they were right!
I ate my weight in candy, was busier than I had any right to be, and was thoroughly entertained by the antics of everyone involved.
But perhaps the most amusing part of the night was the high school student who discovered that even if you manage to get out of your parents house to a Halloween party, when you get so drunk you crap yourself your friends will dump you at a gas station so someone else will call the cops.
His neon-colored tights and high socks went well with the green and brown vomit and poo, and I was impressed by his ability to become coherent enough to warn us, "I'm going to crap myself!"
I learned that when betting on the BAL of a hammered teenager, don't bet high. One of the doctors took one look at our guesses, and goes, "oh, you youngsters. You'll learn that they can't hold their liquor." And then promptly bet the eventual winning number.
I also learned that even more fun than the candy, jokes, and costumes was the knowledge that we get to call the drunk kids parents...and then all giggle as the parents unleash high hell on said drunk kid as he is wheeled out the door, head in hands.
Yes, Halloween night is interesting in the ER.
And they were right!
I ate my weight in candy, was busier than I had any right to be, and was thoroughly entertained by the antics of everyone involved.
But perhaps the most amusing part of the night was the high school student who discovered that even if you manage to get out of your parents house to a Halloween party, when you get so drunk you crap yourself your friends will dump you at a gas station so someone else will call the cops.
His neon-colored tights and high socks went well with the green and brown vomit and poo, and I was impressed by his ability to become coherent enough to warn us, "I'm going to crap myself!"
I learned that when betting on the BAL of a hammered teenager, don't bet high. One of the doctors took one look at our guesses, and goes, "oh, you youngsters. You'll learn that they can't hold their liquor." And then promptly bet the eventual winning number.
I also learned that even more fun than the candy, jokes, and costumes was the knowledge that we get to call the drunk kids parents...and then all giggle as the parents unleash high hell on said drunk kid as he is wheeled out the door, head in hands.
Yes, Halloween night is interesting in the ER.
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