What Did You Do Today?

Had a terribly annoying day at school today. And there's more of that tomorrow. My head hurts and I would really like a cold beer right now.

Probably, but I haven't listened to that album so I can't tell for sure.

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"Me fail English? That's unpossible!"

Solo work

Good Evening!

I'm tired. I'm beat. I'm bushed.

But I'm oh so pleased! Happy. CHUFFED!

We had a HECK of a day at clinicals - I had three kids all to myself ... all of 'em heavy on the IV meds, with atleast one JP and one SP drains etc.

I was constantly rushing about.

I even had a rather difficult NG feeding-tube placed (my first one on a real patient! ). We had all sorts of things going - taking them down to lab, 2hr assessments, bed baths etc. etc. etc.

It got so hectic, I even forgot lunch and had to rush back inside as I was walking to the carpark after my shift because I hadn't pee'd and my bladder was about to let go

Anyways, long story short - near the end of this shift, when I'd done charting, reporting off etc., I went around to say goodbye to my kids (funny how they become "MY kids" ). This sweet 12 year old guy wished me a good break and said that I was the BEST nurse he'd had in all his 10 days of stay. (Infact, I was taking care of him yesterday too and my clinical instructor said that he'd made a specific request that I be put in charge of him today too! )

That one comment just about made my day.

And, as I was walking out of my room - I saw "Barney" pushing his little pram around. "Barney" is a 4 year old toddler with multiple medical issues, and just for a joke I went down on my knees and spread my arms open. He just went "Wheeeeeee!" and ran (he's barely been able to walk).. ran... and jumped and gave me this hug! I gave him about a 100 kisses, tossed him into the air a few times and played "airplane" for a few minutes (though my back was killing me). He was screaming with laughter the whole time!

I about melted right there.

*sigh* It was awesome. I'm gonna see how it keeps working out. I got my acceptance letter for my preceptorship in the ER before I graduate. I'm gonna see how that goes.

But I think I've made up my mind. When I graduate, I think I really want to work pediatrics.

Ok, enough of my rambling. How has everyone been today?

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Work in the ER is a mix of can do, can't do and "sure, what the hell..."

Watch my videos

Good stuff there, Si.

Looks like you've found your niche in life.

Pediatrics is a helluva lot better than geriatrics!!

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Taking away from you for the greater good.

"Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery".-- Winston Churchill

"Islam isn't in America to be equal to any other faith, but to become dominant" - Omar Ahmed, C.A.I.R.)

Today i went to band practice and then bought a nice little chunk of (shhh) which I will be partaking of later.

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One eyed, one horned

Went to school and stayed there for a whole 12 hours because there was a show at the student's cafe tonight and I didn't want to go home after my class and then come back for the show. Fortunately, after all that waiting, the show was really great and I had a good time. I also found a copy of Animals on vinyl for 5 bucks, it has no scratches and plays like a dream, what more could I ask?

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Daddy! Take the banana! Tomorrow is Sunday!

Today went down to the Denver Post (newspaper) publishing building to look over some remodeling being done on their main press line. While there, I was trying to figure out how to plant some explosives to blow the whole commie ratsnest to kingdom come, but decided against it. At least until I get paid for my work there.

Tonight, had a superb "Jacques Chirac" sandwich (French dip) for supper, and finished it off with chocolate cake of my own creation. Damn, I can cook!

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Taking away from you for the greater good.

"Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery".-- Winston Churchill

"Islam isn't in America to be equal to any other faith, but to become dominant" - Omar Ahmed, C.A.I.R.)

Congrats, Si. That's so awesome that you want to work with kids. They're absolutely great.


Hmm, Today was devoted to Whetstone, by large. I took submission forms, and helped the art editor jury all the submissions tonight. We also chose the Art Award of Excellence, and picked a cover piece. I also got several pieces in, including one of a series that I'm really into right now.
Being the only person on art staff besides the editor is cool. I know that a lot of other people's things got in because I wanted them...haha

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"I need a bohemian atmosphere"

That's gotta be heartbreaking though, to be around little guys with big problems....

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Taking away from you for the greater good.

"Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery".-- Winston Churchill

"Islam isn't in America to be equal to any other faith, but to become dominant" - Omar Ahmed, C.A.I.R.)

Definitely. I know I couldn't do it. It would completely get to me.

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"I need a bohemian atmosphere"

Sometimes, it is very heartbreaking. I had an incident a few weeks ago when we had five "codes" on our floor. 5 kids - one after the other - either suffered a repiratory or cardiac failure. Of the 5, only one survived (and he's STILL in the ICU)

I mean, sometimes, it's painful just to look at "Barney". That kid is so sweet and considerate - and YOUNG! - asd he's beset with this whole host of problems.

When I talked to my clinical instructor about this (She's a Nurse Practitioner in the ER in the same hospital) she said about the exact same thing. She told me that it was very rewarding, but it takes a special person to work with children - because the emotional issues (loss, suffering, pain) are that much more harder to deal with. I guess there's just one way to find out...

I'd like to think that I can. I won't say it's the "easy" way or the "hard" way - but I do know that it's the "only" way to know....

Besdies, I've always kinda looked upon my job as "Someone's gotta do it. If I didn't, who else would bring, comfort, calm, stability and a little bit of happiness to these tots when they need it most?" It's probably a very corny/cliched way of looking at things - but that's really how I feel.

What I do right now maynot pay all my bills - but the satisfaction I get from seeing a kid smile or laugh while they're going through some of the toughest times in their lives makes up for it.

Will I feel the same way 15 years down the line when I've got mouths to feed and educate of my own? I dunno.

But it's the way I feel now...

__________________

Work in the ER is a mix of can do, can't do and "sure, what the hell..."

Watch my videos

Simon,
you are really a good boy with a big, big heart.

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If you want to find the source,
you have to go up, against the current.

I lost my friends "the Who" cd and now i have to buy her a new one.

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Corperal Cleg
Had a wooden leg
He won it in the war
In nineteen forty-four

Oh man! Typing with one hand is a pain!

Somebody from the library came over to ask us for help with one of their printers - we're the IT side of things. We're not responsible for the library. But I figured I'm a nice guy, I'll go over and see if I can help.

Bad paper jam. One of them old HP printers - and I'm one the very few left in our IT department who has actually seen and worked on these machines. Most of the kids know the new machines (and a lot of them actually don't. So who do they call when something goes wrong? Yep. Lil'ol'me... )

Got most of the jams cleared but there's still paper stuck in the fuser. Now the Fuser is the "hot" part of the machine - it's what binds the ink to the paper by using very, very, very, very, very high temperatures.

I know I needed to be careful and I pretty much was - I propped open the washer/slider with paper pins so I could have two hands to pull the paper out (since the paper is stuck/jammed... you NEED two hands).

Anyway, got almost all but one tiny scrap. I coulda done the easy thing and let the printer chew it out - but that produces extra (and in my opinion needless) wear'n'tear on the washer/slider and the fuser itself.

So as I was jerking that scrap out, it slipped my mind that this was a really OLD printer and thus the fuser mounting itself could be loose. As a consequence, when I was jerking the scrap out, the fuser mounting slid. The washer/slider slid back into place, shooting the paper-clips out like mini-rockets and my finger got slammed onto the hot fuser.

I think they heard my scream three floors up

So after running it under cold water for 15 minutes and applying burn cream on me hand - I'm staring at this swollen, reddish thing that used to be my left-fore finger.

Now it makes me think - how the heck am I going to drive home tonight?

__________________

Work in the ER is a mix of can do, can't do and "sure, what the hell..."

Watch my videos