Clinicals

First day at clinicals was everything and nothing like I thought it might be. I never thought I would be assigned the crazy clinical director, I mean the director who being older than many of the residents themselves had a stroke *while* working, finished her shift and then drove herself to the hospital. Some might call it dedication, I call it crazy. The rest of my day went something like this:

Jane Doe (old, thin, and moves about pushing her wheelchair by her feet is doing her scooting thing when she stops abruptly at two men, turns to them and says): John, your OLD!!

John Doe (old, thin, and on a nasal cannula, slouched in a stationary wheelchair): I'm not old!

Jane Doe: Your NINETY!!

John Doe: Your FOUR months younger than I am!

Jane: So? Your NINETY! (now referring to a friend who had come up behind them, call her Betty)

Jane: Don't even ask how old Betty is, she doesn't know.

Betty: I don't want to know!

Jane: One time I spent an entire day trying to figure out how old Betty was, and at the end of the day....she didn't even want to know!

Betty: I don't WANNA know how old I am!

Okay, switch scenes. Now I'm giving a patient a bed bath. Now, I know as you age your skin grows more thin and sensitive....but this lady was crazy. Every time the washcloth touched her skin, she would scream 'Ow! OW! Yur hurtin mu skiiin!!!' (The nurse I was with just pushed on through. I guess being ballsy is part of the job.) I used that washcloth like a feather, it was a loong ten minutes but we made it through the shower and were blow drying the patients hair.....when she lets one go. A stool, a big, watery, messy, smelly stool. *deep sigh* Here we go! I was later told the patient had been diagnosed with schizophrenia. Hey! I wasn't that far off after all!

All kidding aside, I really do love nursing. Some of the patients are so sweet. Like the gentleman I worked with who at 6:30 in the morning was sitting up in his bed, bright eyed and bushy tailed (with a towel over his head) and grinning at me with a big gummy smile.

Our Home

It happened. Somewhere in the last year, we became domesticated. We put our passports in a box and instead of buying a plane ticket, we bought a couch. After sleeping on more hostel beds than I can remember, it's nice to come home to things we love.
This is the living room, still unfinished. We haven't decided on what kind of wall art we want to put up. Also, the lamp will be moved to the bedroom (when our bed arrives in a few weeks) and in it's place a bronze lamp.

We love love love this piece! The picture doesn't do it justice. And yes, we use our computer for a t.v. right now. Buying a flat screen was low on the priority list.

We bought these to put in the dining area to connect the yellow couch with the rest of the living space. Kinda cute though.

Sorry about the flash on the picture, but this is one of my favorite things. We collect the currency from all of the countries that we go to. I never really knew what I wanted to do with it, until we were looking for ideas of things to put up on the walls. From Bangladesh to Malaysia, it's a great reminder of all of the fun Mike and I have had together.

4:15

That would be A.M. It's way too early in the morning to be seen like this. Happy Monday, everyone!

Quarter Century

I'm how old??

Yea, I know it looks like I'm doing something else....but I'm really just lotioning up my legs for this hot birthday getup.
That's right, 25 years ago I was naked, wet, and screaming. Oddly enough, I can point out several moments in my life where that same response seems just as appropriate. So, in honor of the big day I've come up with 25 life lessons that I've either learned or had reinforced this year.

1. It really is possible to study 24 hours a day, every day.

2. Never pretend to be anything your not.

3. The decision to have children should always be on your own terms.

4. Don't follow the crowd.

5. Silverfish are disgusting

6. Don't ever, under any circumstances try home remedies on #5. They won't work.

7. Even the worst situations in life look better with Mike by my side.

8. Maine. Enough said.

9. I really could live off a diet of cucumbers, mango's, and peppermint patties.

10. Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day.

11. Don't drink the Lao Lao in Phuket.

12. Never pretend to be pregnant with your dog so you can sneak him on a Chinese train. He'll just end up peeing on your sheets.

13. Everyone likes to find love-notes in their lunch.

14. Always admit when your wrong.

15. It's really really funny to play pranks on Mike while he's in the shower. Even if he doesn't thinks so. I love you baby!

16. Life is short, do what you want.

17. Nursing is going to make me more OCD than I already am.

18. Take risks.

19. You may not be able to control your circumstances, but you can control your attitude, and that makes all the difference.

20. Never say never, because it probably will.

21. Richard Dawkins and Ayn Rand books will never get old.

22. Don't set impossible budgets. ahem.potterybarn.ahem.

23. Traveling is my drug of choice.

24. I could retire at a lakeside cabin in the middle of the woods somewhere north of the equator.

25. Honesty and kindness should prevail above all else.

p.s. Mike made my birthday so special. I told him I didn't want any presents (we exchange years not days...guess who's year it is? ) But I came home to the sweetest love letter. : )

The next day I got to spend all day hanging out with this italian stallion!

This one's just for posterity, because let's get real. I only curl my hair one out of every 6 million days. Say 'sexy love'!