12 days of Christmas with a twist...

Christmas time is upon us!

I have enjoyed for the most part the “12 days of Christmas blessings” “100 days of thankful” and the likes. I often feel like it is over kill. Yes I love that you are thankful for the little things that are not thing at all. But really please don’t feel like you must share them with the world… every day… grab a piece of paper and a pen… start a journal of thankfulness or something like that.

Now please don’t take offense if you (my 2 readers) have in fact done this and posted daily on facebook for all to see.

To me this is something you don’t need to share… it is like doing something nice for someone then telling everyone about it. It kind of looses its meaning.

But maybe I am just jaded; maybe it is doing things for people everyday without expecting recognition has tainted my view.

Maybe I am cold hearted and need to explore the deep recesses of my heart to figure out why these things bug me so.

So in the hopes to re-discover the rose colored glasses I once wore -I give you the nurses 12 days of thankful…. To be read to the tune of 12 days of Christmas

On the first day of Christmas this nurse is thankful for.. stable patients for the whole shift.

On the second day of Christmas this nurse is thankful for…Two Saline locks and stable patients for the whole shift

On the third day of Christmas this nurse is thankful for… Three cups of coffee, two saline locks and stable patients for the whole shift.

On the fourth day of Christmas this nurse is thankful for… four breaks a shift, three cups of coffee, two saline locks and stables patients for the whole shift.

On the fifth day of Christmas this nurse is thankful for… FIVE hours of sleep! (for me after nightshift, or for my patient to sleep the night), four breaks a shift, three cups of coffee, two saline locks and stable patients for the whole shift.

On the sixth day of Christmas this nurse is thankful for… six doctors rounding, FIVE HOURS OF SLEEEEP, four breaks a shift, three cups of coffee, two saline locks and stable patients for the whole shift.

On the seventh day of Christmas this nurse is thankful for… seven nurses charting, six doctors rounding, FIVE HOURS OF SLEEEEEP, four breaks a shift, three cups of coffee, two saline locks, and stable patients for the whole shift.

On the eighth day of Christmas this nurse is thankful for… eight veins to chose from, seven nurses charting, six doctors rounding, FIVE HOURS OF SLEEEEEP, four breaks a shift, three cups of coffee, and stable patients for the whole shift.

On the ninth day of Christmas this nurse is thankful for… nine snack on nightshift, eight veins to choose from, seven nurses charting, six doctors rounding, FIVE HOURS OF SLEEEP, four breaks a shift, three cups of coffee, two saline locks and stable patients for the whole shift

On the tenth day of Christmas this nurse is thankful for… ten silent call bells, nine snacks on nightshift, eight veins to choose from, seven nurses charting, six doctors rounding, FIVE HOURS OF SLEEEP, four breaks a shift, three cups of coffee, two saline locks and stable patients for the whole shift.

On the eleventh day of Christmas this nurse is thankful for… eleven fresh black pens, ten silent call bells, nine snacks on nightshift, eight veins to choose from, seven nurse charting, six doctors rounding, FIVE HOURS SLEEEP, four breaks a shift, three cups of coffee, two saline locks, and stable patients for the whole shift.

On the twelfth day of Christmas this nurse is thankful for…twelve hour shifts, eleven fresh black pens, ten silent call bells, nine snacks on nightshift, eight veins to choose from, seven nurses charting, six doctors rounding, FIVE HOURS OF SLEEEP, four breaks a shift, three cups of coffee, two saline locks, and stable patients for the whoooooole shiiiiiift.

So it is the little things that make a nurse happy, especially when on night shift. But night shift nursing is a  topic for another blog on another day—

So my friends, I wish you joy in the little things, and much love over the holidays!

Merry Christmas!

survival of the wittiest?

I looked into my little notebook of possible blog topics and laughed out loud… I have some crazy fun friends, some of the topics are very scenario specific that only a handful of people would understand, this is one of them, I shall hopes to extrapolate it into a relatable piece full off moments of laughter and reflection, joys and sorrows… who am I trying to kid.. its me! 

It's gonna be strangely relevant and slightly disturbing yes?

I mentioned last time I recently was blessed with a chance to vacation in Hawaii, I was included in the family adventure holiday of friends who I now think of as family, you know when you feel homesick for them and feel at home when with them? The family we are fortunate enough to be able to pick! I love them all very much and love that our numbers are growing each time we get together.

There were 12 of us this trip, We had condos and took over tours and info sessions like we owned the place, it was great fun. We cooked for each other, each condo hosting the rest of us for dinner or breakfast… they felt pity on the single girl and let me tag along in the making of these meals. 

It was at one of these meals that talk turned to the upcoming hurricane Iselle, she was to hit us later that evening, the news had what we were suppose to be doing, the resort management was keeping us all up to date on how to be best prepared for possible flooding, power outages etc.  Talk moved from being prepared to worst case scenarios… who would we eat in an “alive-soccer team stranded plane crash-scenario” and my friend whom I love who has the biggest heart would give you the food off her plate leans over to me and says “we talked about it and that’s why we invited YOU”…. Nice, really really nice..

As only truly good friends can say, “we figured its because you were Canadian it would be ok” … are Canadians really seen as that kind and polite? Sorry about the situation but of course you can have the clothes off my back and may snack on my left leg if need be J

We promptly decided that was not such a good idea, and moved on to happier topics like we would pick a stranger if it came down to it.. I was thinking turning vegetarian in a situation like this could also be a good idea yes?

So be alert, and always vigilant if an invitation to travel to far off places with loved ones if proffered. Check the weather forecast and bring lots of snacks.

Air Travel... an exercise in lining up and sitting down

I recently was able to go on a wonderful holiday meeting up with friends in Hawaii

(more on that later)

I was scheduled to depart 1000am from Seattle so driving from home usually takes 2-2.5 hours to make it to the airport. BUT factor in the possibilities of rush hour through Seattle city centre, accidents road work or just bad weather. Well I left with plenty of time to accommodate for this and ended up flying through town- I found the little pocket of good driving and arrived at the airport 4 hours early.

4 hours early

The line-ups were HUGE everywhere so I waited patiently to self check in last name.... confirmation number... bags to check... to continue click OK or check for upgrades.... 

um upgrades?

YES PLEASE!

so for $50 I was upgraded to "business class" or first class on Alaska Air. 

For those of you playing along at home that's "preferred lines" meaning short security line ups, early seating, use of the "flight lounge" and you don't have to pay for baggage.

-- if any of you see that little button when checking in PUSH IT!! --

I didn't feel right taking the short line through security so i lined up en mass with all the rest of the world moving through the security channels like cattle, after all I was there 4 hours early...
Found my gate, searched unsuccessfully for a Starbucks, all I wanted was a mocha or something like that! a little treat! after all holidays had begun... and I was feeling a wee bit sleepy from the late night and early morning... unfortunately all I could find was "Seattle's Best" coffee... and I'm sorry Seattle if that is your best you need help- no wonder Starbucks is so successful!
the mocha I had was HORRIBLE!

I have had a lot of bad coffee, being a nurse I know sometimes you have to "get through" the bad coffee just to reap the benefits of the caffeine... sad I know...

I sat in the waiting area as I watched people... my favourite pastime.
Book in hand glancing up at the people passing by far more than at the words on the page
3 fanny packs were spotted... one of them was leather yep straight from 1989... it was magical!
2 dudes were going home... both sleeping "beach style" legs crossed laying on their backpacks and or skateboards... love it!
hopped on the plane... row 4! I have never been in row 4! immediately they asked if I wanted something to drink so I asked for coffee... my seat-mate started in with the mixed drinks... at 1000am... maybe I missed that button when I checked in...

So as I sipped my delicious Starbucks coffee I was in my happy place, room to stretch my legs out, so I grabbed my book and settled in... then they brought a menu so I could pick what I wanted for lunch... and a snack while I waited for the plane to fill up. would I like some water? sure! loaded up we take off! the lady beside me grips the arm rest like it was keeping the plane up... now I understand the 1000am Mai Tai.

They brought around the little "entertainment units" and just gave them to us! I was ready to pay the $8 but complimentary is good too! I was able to watch "the Winter Soldier" I think that was the name of it... the latest Captain America movie, it was a good shoot em up movie, nothing like watching planes crash while cruising over the ocean... in an airplane...
I then was able to watch other movies like Date Night and a couple episodes of Big Bang Theory and listened to classical music as sleep won the battle...

As I awoke the plane was passing over the island of Maui and I was able to look upon the Big Island of Hawaii at all the mountains, the black lava fields, the pristine waters, and the lush greenery that made it feel like we were landing in a whole different world.
I stepped out of the plane to walk down the ramp and into the open air airport the warmth and aloha embraced me and welcomed me home to somewhere I had never been before!
so long story short waiting is good... patience is truly a virtue, you are rewarded for it and it makes the destination so much sweeter!
~Mahalo

"August-two-try-something-new" 2014!

“August-two-try-something-new”

Do you think it will catch on?

I sure hope so.

I am a little late on the whole make new years resolutions, and for my two dedicated readers who know I am not a fan of January resolutions I choose to invent a new day to make changes.

Life is all about making changes right?

Changes to be healthier, eat better, live cleaner, take better care of yourself and those around you, try new things, things that scare you, things you have always wondered about try new toilet paper and so on and so on.

I always thought I was brave, and yes I am a good talker but when it comes to walking it out I can be a bit of a chicken.

Today that changed. I said I was going to do something and literally put my money where my mouth was. I met with a personal trainer this morning. Paid him a large sum of money and committed to 10 sessions. It was scary. He was not as scary as I had initially anticipated—he did however threaten that if I wasn’t giving it my best he “would go all Jillian Michaels” on me. I had to be careful because the Jillian Michaels I know and love talks about having “my two best girls” join her for a workout.

I am waiting to see what his “two best girls” look like. He does work out of the facility that the firemen, policemen and corrections officers work out at… so I am thinking two dudes without necks…

I will keep you all posted as my first actual session is not until after holidays and that is when the fun comes in… I told him as long as he doesn’t yell at me it will be ok….

I am in it now.

What are some things you haven’t jumped in to do?

I love lists as many do, I have written out schedules and lists of things to do, days I can work out etc. What happens to those lists? They sit… undone. Poor lists.

So now my friends I have put something on the list that cannot be undone.

I told this poor man who agreed to this adventure that I do not want to be a twig, I want to be stronger and healthier. I mean-who doesn’t!!

The adventure begins August 20^th. Who knows maybe my long arduous journey can help inspire others to greatness. For me I hope to find balance.

Ommmmmmmmmmmmm

Ram-a-lam-a-ding-ding-dong…..eyes closed meditatively…cross legged… finding my chi….. or is that chai?

Until then I am getting ready for a holiday to Hawaii! Yes I am so excited to join my California Family there! 3 more sleeps…

And much to do between now and then so another entry to follow perhaps?

Until then think of all the fun changes that you have always wanted to do but haven’t fully committed to yet!

“August-two-try-something-new” is waiting for you!

The Sunshine has arrived...and brought some fun things with it

So I have been less than fruitful when it comes to blogging, I can't even say I'm too busy as I know I can sit for 45 minutes scrolling around my phone until my hand cramps up and my thumbs go numb from trying to make it to the next level of stinkin candy crush saga... yep that little beauty is deleted.

So I sit here coffee in hand, looking out into the yard at the sunshine dappled lawn and can actually smell the lilacs, one has exploded in a canopy of white flowers. Warm weather has come to the neighbourhood waking up all the sleeping bulbs and blossoms...... and has produced a whole new batch of booty shorts...

A new crop has been sited. I was out buying car insurance yesterday, I was maybe out for a total of half an hour and spotted no fewer than 7 pairs... 4 of which should not have been harvested so soon as they were very very small....
It was warm out, the first real toasty day this spring. But before you haul out the clothing that was size and age appropriate last year, take stock of your life first. It's easy really, just ask yourself a few questions... like should I be pushing my stroller with shorts so tiny that the passer by does a double take because my shirt actually covers the hem of the shorts... keeping in that same genre of questioning after having a baby, are tiny hot pink shorts the wisest choice ?

I know I sound judgey... heck yes I was. So things you just cant help when you see things like that. I am far from perfect yes and my body is in no shape or form ready to take on the teeny tiny shorts that are cropping up on everyone! BUT I know when my shirt covers the hemline of my shorts, my shorts may be too short. If my thighs are rubbing together and causing previously mentioned tiny shorts to ride up the inner leg... they might be too short. If from the back they look like bathing suite bottoms with a little peek of butt cheek out the bottom hem those tiny shorts may be too short- and my final observation from yesterday... if you are walking along with a small gang of kids yelling at them as you go and the shorts you are wearing look like they belong to one of your children... please be advised your shorts are too short. Thank you this ends the public service announcement portion of the post.

So dear friends as the weather warms and we turn from hoodies to halter tops, remember when you are out strutting your stuff in your summer clothes, think back to when you purchased them... was this always a mid-drift baring tube top? or did these shorts always ride so low at the back.... and with that last one... did I remember to apply sunscreen everywhere? cause after all no one wants a sunburned buttcrack!

the resilience of nurses- well done team!

I am posting this not to toot my own horn- but to acknowledge the amazing team I work with.
Yesterday was an especially trying day in my world. I am a cardiac nurse. One of our roles is to run when we hear the code blue alarm go off and to record everything that goes on as part of the records of the patient. Sometimes there are days that go by without a single call.

Yesterday was different.

The very busy and congested emergency department had 3 codes called, plus one they worked internally- meaning they ran it without the call for back up.
As the recorder I have the luxury of observing everything.
What I observed and recorded was an amazing team of nurses and doctors working together fight for the life of the patient as well as to protect and support each other. The day doesn't end for them at the end of one battle. They dust themselves off and head right back into it giving it their all.

Yesterday was difficult.

Walking out of the one trauma bay to collect thoughts and finish charting I hear "right behind you" as they are wheeling someone else into the second bay, I made it to the desk when the second code was called. The team jumped into action once again, with the look of determination and with everything they had, they worked away once again.
I am in awe of the wonderful men and women who fight each and every day for the lives of those people that come through the doors of our emergency department. The conditions are not ideal but they are working their hardest and seriously giving their all.

Yesterday was demanding.

The nurses, doctors, respiratory therapists, social workers, care aids, unit clerks and members of our community EHS all work very hard to help each and everyone that comes through the unpredictable doors of the emergency department, they work so hard, every day.
The news only reflects the troubles that happen in that department. This is just my simple way of thanking them for everything they do.
Thank you friends. I know if anyone I loved came in the doors you would work your hardest to help them.
So if you are reading this and know anyone who is a member of the health care team working tirelessly for long 12 hour shifts do me a favour and thank them. It is one thing we don't often hear after days like that, it is sometimes all we need to feel a little better about coming back the next day to face it all over again!


hug your loved ones.

Challenge accepted!

Recently I was challenged to blog more.. and let me just apologize for any lameness that results from this challenge… I don't necessarily find my life that funny or worthy of a post, but talking with a few people over coffee and yes even skype ;) I was encouraged and even challenged to write more.
I do enjoy writing, about the little things that strike me as funny but unfortunately some of them when explained may lose the context in which they were funny.

For those of you (my 6 loyal readers) who don't know, I am a nerd… I have tried to hide it.. I confess I love books, nerdy jokes, science and technology, I find humor in the every day and love the art and science of Witt. I have to warn you, I do work night shifts, so the majority of ideas for posts are started in the still of the night… never during the sane waking hours of the day. I have had so many eye rolling moments, ones where you have to hold in the giggles or you wake the patients. But these, I am afraid are the moments that when shared in the light of day may lose their humour and charm. I will be challenged to perfect the science of story telling.

I have attempted to cook more this year, I guess it is some what of a resolution. I know that it is something I can do, I just have to do it. As a single girl, cooking for one, it is difficult to make something that I will want to eat 10 times… because chances are the recipe makes enough for 8 and with me bringing it in my lunches for work it stretches it even further as lunches are never as big as whole meals. I have tried to freeze things, I might as well just toss them now. Once it is in the freezer it has passed on to the other side. I tried freezing something I had made so I dutifully thawed it out, and it was bad… not just bad but really bad, it was watery, which is hard to do after all it was soup! it had beans in it so the beans turned kinda hard and mealy and the little noodles in it almost totally disintegrated! Not cool. The recipe even encouraged me in italics at the end "freezes great!" well the little italics lady LIED to me.
As you can see I felt betrayed. so now I am a little weary about freezing meals.
I have chosen 2 recipes for this week. One is twice baked potato pie, it has a ground beef ( I will substitute turkey) crust, and a chicken or turkey quinoa chili that can be constructed in the crock pot.

I also have a recipe for a salad… yes I need a recipe for salad…

Until then wish me luck!

ps- I actually posted this as a draft and when I came back to post an update on how yummy the recipes were I realized I hadn't even posted the original… so I'm sorry I took away your chance to anticipate the outcome of the yummy recipes.
I guess the one thing I can give you I froze half of it and have not tried to thaw out and eat it yet?
oooo the anticipation!

I love "the googles"

"Hey remember that movie with the guy from the show we just saw last night?" 

This ever happen to you and it takes forever for you to think of who it was?? 

Well NOT ME! thank you smart phone and the wonderful search engine GOOGLE!

I think I am addicted! I will be reading an article, I'll google something mentioned in it... 

I will be watching tv and google something I see in an add or something a character mentions.. 

Yep its pretty bad... well I guess it is wonderful to have so much information at our finger tips... 

But for someone who has a brain that catalogues every tiny little bit of information it sees, hears, or ready I am just afraid all those little juicy nuggets of viable information will uproot something important and I will wake up unable to tie my shoes ! 

So how much google is too much google?

Seriously! What do you google?

I google everything! 

hmmm cesar salad would be yummy ..... how do you make dressing?

Disney land looks like fun.... how much does it cost to visit?

Booster Juice is so tasty... how good are they for me?

I haven't been to Old Navy for a while.... when are they open until?

Wait that doesn't sound right... What are the lyrics to that song?

wait a minute when does that cd come out?

see? Its bad! 

I need to cut back... 

So now that i know what time my favourite show is on, When Sherlock Holmes is coming back to BBC, the release date of an upcoming cd, I have two recipes for dressing printed and a pattern for a super cute head band I think I can leave google out of the equation and actually be in the moment, not busy googling it :)

So goodnight google... sleep tight and see you later... much later.

2013, you were a good one!

New Years has come… in with the new out with the old?

I like to look at the year past, instead of rushing to make new plans for the new year

What did you get done this year?

Looking back I am rather impressed at all the little things that add up to this year we have just laid to rest. 

No wonder I am so tired!

Looking back it was actually something that happened Christmas time 2012 that made the biggest changes for 2013. I woke up one day with a back that wouldn’t move, I hadn’t done something that would have made it do that, I slept. That is it.

Who does that?! Who sleeps and wakes up not being able to move!

This scared me into realizing how hard my job is on my body. So I cracked down on things. I lost some weight tried to get stronger, and yes signed up for my Masters for heaven forbid that time comes I am no longer able to nurse at the bedside, I hope to teach others how to be kickass nurses!.

I think that has been the big news for 2013, I have been chipping away at my masters degree full time at times, part time during the winter—textbooks and articles, papers and projects. This has been my life in 2013!

It shall continue well into 2015 according to my calculations so I am sure I will have cause to write about it again.

I have traveled this past year, my favourite flight was down in secret to California to surprise my sweet little “nephew” Sawyer on his Birthday on the beach! So fun and I would do it again in a heartbeat!  It was a 24 hour visit but I loved every birthday second of it!

In September My friends were able to travel up to my house! It was by far one of my favourite visits… unfortunately it was the rainiest coldest first week of September we have had in ages! So not many adventures were had we stayed in a lot, I introduced them to the truly Canadian experience of Corner Gas. Yep  places like that really exist! I have driven through many of them on my treks to and from Ontario!

I have knit my way through many months, babies scattered around the area are sporting hats and quilts made by yours truly, and by the looks of things 2014 will be a busy year as well!  I will have to rummage through my stash and see what this year holds for those coming babies J

2013 saw many trips to the movies, endless cups of coffee, some adventures down town, countless visits with Trader Joe, sushi enough to feed a small pod of whales, and a list of books read I wish was longer. I have spent time with old friends made some new friends and loved every minute of it!

So as 2014 unfolds before us I look back at this past year with fondness and a sense of anticipation for what is to come !