ferocious lion

Aww!!!

peace and love,
m

happy friday!

Here's a little kittycat attack for your enjoyment.  Adios 2011!



peace and love,
m

purr, purr, purr

for when you're feeling yucky

peace and love,
m

ouch

Woke up this morning unable to turn my neck...must have slept funny.  I'll be spending the day with a heating pad!  Grr.

peace and love,
m

just an FYI

Working for hours on end together does not qualify as a date!  Unfortunately, that's all I've seen of my honey this week :(  Hopefully the weekend is nicer to us.

peace and love,
m

and the beat goes on

And by beat, I mean the transplant slam.  Yesterday was the liver transplant on the hemophiliac.  Oh boy, that was fun.  And by fun, I mean completely exhausting and nerve-wracking.  Last night, though I didn't do it, was a kidney.  Today, I did a kidney and a liver.  Tomorrow, even more fun!  I'm tired!

peace and love,
m

PS- In other, nicer news, this new MacBook Pro is delightful!

thankful and stuffed

What a lovely Thanksgiving holiday!  I'm stuffed and not planning to eat for a couple of days ;)

On Thanksgiving, Ryan and I went to his parents' for the game and dinner.  Go Pack!  We had deep-fried turkey with all the fixins'.  All catastrophes involving deep-fried turkey were avoided, and the only issue was not having enough oil--fortunately, this was realized before all the stores closed at 3 pm and Phil was able to run to Pick and Save.  

Friday was spent at work, where a delightful Tofurkey graced the walls of my OR.  Gobble gobble, WOW!  I ran to PetSmart after work for some food for the Attack Cat, and came home to a lovely surprise: Ryan and dinner!  We put up my tree too.  

Saturday I got up early and headed to Wind Lake to meet my cousin and head to the farm for the family Thanksgiving.  It was wonderful to see everyone, although we missed Dani and Derek, Lee, Preston, and the Washington State contingency.  I got to meet Colleen, the adorable daughter of Andrea's boyfriend Ben.  We ate way too much, laughed until we cried,  and all in all, had a great time.

Now I'm back to the daily grind...but Christmas is just around the corner!

peace and love,

m

being thankful

Happy Thanksgiving, gobble gobble!  I have a lot to be thankful for this year, starting first and foremost with my amazing family.  From great weekends at the farm, to a week in Washington DC with the girls, to random texts from my Mom telling me that Leno or Letterman has animals on their show, they're the best.  My parents are strong, smart people.  Even Eric has turned into a pretty cool little brother ;)

I am thankful to have my health.  With several coworkers being injured and having severe health problems, and the fact that I take care of a lot of people who have one foot in the grave and the other on a banana peel, there isn't a day that goes by that I am glad to be relatively healthy.

Ryan.  He makes me totally, completely, incandescently happy.  He puts up with my moodiness and silliness and loves me for who I am.

JOB, my best friend.  Random roommates rarely work so well!  Good job, UWEC dorms!

My feline furball Tuxedo, who is always up for a snuggle or a game of chase the mouse.  He's a great stand-in for an electric blanket too, and I don't have to worry about a fire starting with him :)

I might complain about my job from time to time, but honestly, I am glad to have one.  So many people nowadays are struggling, and I'm lucky to have a job that allows me to do what I love and live comfortably.

Coffee, chocolate, and beer...self-explanatory!!

peace and love and thanks,
m  

blitzen trapper and dawes

Ryan and I went to a fantastic show at the Turner Hall Ballroom last night.  It was the first time either of us had seen a show there, and it's a great venue.  You're able to get right up next to the band...seriously, I could see the set lists [if I were taller, I could have read them]!  Dawes was great [check them out!], and Blitzen Trapper killed it, closing it out with a sweet cover of Led Zeppelin's Good Times, Bad Times.  Of course, being a Blitzen Trapper/Dawes show, we were surrounded by hipsters drinking PBR, but I'll take that over having beer spilled on me while crammed in a dirty bar, or people passing out because it's so hot at the Rave...or being robbed at knife point at the Rave.  Come to think, I just don't want to be at the Rave!

Oh hipsters.  You crack me up with your big black glasses, the 47 layers of clothing, and your PBR tall boys.  I was wildly out of place last night, having only 2 layers and no flannel.  Ryan played the part a little better, having a flannel-like shirt and boots on!

It's been a great weekend after a long week of work.  I could definitely handle 3 day weekends all the time :)  If only, if only!  I got so much done on my Friday off, including a trip down to the county courthouse to file some important paperwork.  Oh my god, it's about 100 degrees in that building.  Here's a thought, decrease the temp to 67, encourage everyone to bring a sweater, and save some dolla dolla bills...and some seriously nasty smelling armpits!  I was there for about 1.5 hours, and by the time I was done, my normally freezing self had shed my coat, scarf, and pushed up the sleeves of my sweater.  I was hot, and not in the smokin' sense!!

peace and love,
m

still here...

...yeah...still alive...just busy and not good about updating here.  Lots of work, but a fair amount of play to balance it out :)

Maybe a real post will come soon...if not, I'm sure you'll survive without it!!  hahaha :)

peace and love,
m

good friends and family

I may complain about my workplace and the crap I deal with [literally and figuratively], but truthfully, I have wonderful coworkers.  I also have the best family anyone could ask for.

I've been dealing with some crap lately courtesy the jackass ex, but my family, coworkers, and BF have been beyond amazing.  I mean, Mom takes my hysteric calls at 8 am even though she's retired, Brother suggests hiring thugs, Dad offers to drive over; coworkers are offering to take me out and giving me their support; and BF has been kind+understanding+supportive+and just the best damn thing ever.  I mean, who else tells you that you look cute, even though your eyes are bloodshot, your makeup is streaked, snot is dripping from your nose, and you're wearing a paper surgeon's gown because you're so rattled that you're freezing cold?

peace and love,
m

another list

This list, however, is not as fun as the previous, as it involves the dreaded household chores that I have been putting off this weekend.

• laundry [currently in the dryer, wahoo]
• dishes [blech, I need a dishwasher!]
• dusting [for sneezy Ry]
• sweep floors
• take out garbage and recycling
• decide on something to make for the cookout tomorrow...and then make it!
• nap :)

peace and love,

m

the list

To Do:

1. Go to work...survive work.
2. Go to Target...stick to shopping list while there :)
3. Go to grocery store...get baking supplies.
4. Bake delicious things.
5. Not work tomorrow!
6. Brewers game tomorrow night!

peace and love,

m

slammed

Thank goodness for Wednesday off. I got hit hard with the call this weekend--I had to go in both days. It really sucks to have your glorious, hard-earned weekends sucked up by more work!

In other news, this weekend marked 4 years at the medical center for me. Yay?

peace and love,

m

hello...

...faithful stalkers. You know who you are ;)

Life has a funny way of happening even when you don't think anything is going on. Take, for example, this summer. All of the sudden, bam, Labor Day is right around the corner, it's 67 degrees outside, and autumn is dancing in the periphery. Wasn't I just putting my pillowcases in the freezer because it was close to 7 billion degrees in my non-ACed apartment, and looking forward to going to work because at least it's cool there?

I guess time flies when you're having fun...falling in love...working your tail off...etc :)

peace and love,

m

past 2 weekends

Lindsey and Kevin got married!

Ryan and I were smashing in blue :)

Spaghetti and meatballs on a stick...meh.

Beer with cookie dough on a stick...yum!

peace and love,

m

26

It's my birthday and I'll be lazy if I want to, lazy if I want to, lazy if I want to!

Yep, that's right, today's the big 26 birthday, and I have nothing planned except not working :) I absolutely refuse to work on my birthday. I think that stems from having a summer birthday and never having to go to school on the celebratory date. So far, I've slept in until 1115, snuggled the Tuxedo Cat, had some coffee, and updated this sorry excuse for a blog.

Lots has been going on lately. I took a wonderful vacation with Mom, Grandma, Aunts Lynn, Chris, Nancy, and Kay, and Mom's friend Mary to Washington DC. It was Chicks in the City, version 2.0--and just as much fun! Lynn and I were the de facto tour guides by having been to DC before, and I was even asked by a stranger on the Metro if she was at the right stop. I must look good in the city ;) We did so much; like NYC, it was nonstop! One of my tasks for today is to put the photos in an album. My favorites sights were the monuments at night, the National Zoo, and the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown.

Summerfest ended this Sunday, and BF and I walked down early in the afternoon to take advantage of the free admission. We wandered around for a couple of hours, eating and listening to good and bad bands. I owed him ice cream as a result of winning mini golf the day before, so we enjoyed some Coldstone as we people-watched :) Teresa and Chris were there for Sugarland, so we met up and did the introductions before BF and I headed over to the Briggs and Stratton stage for Evan Christian and the event of the night, Amos Lee. Both were fantastic! I love live music.

Speaking of live music, Virgin Mary and I took the trip down to Chicago, and as Packer fans, braved Soldier Field for the epic rock stylings of U2. Absolutely amazing, best concert I have ever been to, fan-friggin-tastic, insert your own superlative here!! Seriously, even if you don't like U2, you would have had a blast. The stage, the energy, everything was off the charts. The only downside was the fact that it was close to 7 billion degrees [give or take a few billion] and we were sweating like muthas. But it was definitely worth the sweat and the exhaustion the next day at work :)

So, that's my birthday update. Maybe I'll be better at maintaining this blog as a mature 26 year old? Hahaha ;)

peace and love,

m

wheels up!

I'm off to Washington DC for a week of vacay with Grandma, Mom, Aunts Lynn-Chris-Kay-Nancy, and Mom's school friend Mary. Watch out DC ;)

peace and love,

m

happy june

I am a happy lady!

peace and love,

m

happy nurses week

Do you know what I do?

I am a registered nurse. I take care of you and your loved ones during the most frightening times of your lives--when you are too sick or injured to do it yourselves. I see people in every stage of life--beginning, middle, and the end. I hold your hand as you experience pain, be it physical or emotional. I experience joy and devastation with my patients and their families. I give you the dignity and respect that you deserve.

I am an educated professional. I have a 4-year degree and am certified in my field. I have an alphabet soup behind my name, but you know me as "m." I develop my own care plans, assess the patient, and initiate treatments based on my observations, in addition to carrying out the doctor's orders. I coordinate your care between teams of physicians, pharmacists, therapists, dieticians, and laboratory scientists. I am knowledgeable in biology, anatomy, physiology, chemistry, pharmacology, sociology, and psychology. I'm like the orchestra conductor, making sure everything stays in order and you don't get lost.

I work long, weird hours. I spend the day on my feet. I lose my weekends and nights to call, and sometimes to mandatory overtime. I'm not always guaranteed a meal, and sometimes have been reduced to eating a spoonful of peanut butter in a moment of downtime.

I wouldn't give it up for anything. There are heartbreaking moments and heartwarming moments. Nursing is frustrating and rewarding. Parts of it are simple--taking care of peoples' basic needs. Parts of it are complex--taking care of people, and those peoples' families, teetering between life and death.

That's what I do. I'm a nurse.

peace and love,

m

hmm, what?

Ahem, ahem...taps microphone. "Is this thing on?"

Oh, okay. Yep, I'm still alive...just a little lacking in the blogging department. I'm going to try to be more active here...but no promises. You know me :)

peace and love,

m

to do list

• Clean floors. After all the snow and salt that's been tracked in, they're looking pretty shabby.
• Dishes. I hate, hate, hate doing them, but they're stacking up. Ugh.
• Snuggle Tux. This is an easy one!
• Clean the bathroom. Eww, but it must be done!
• Make valentines for work peeps.
• Movie with cute boy :)

peace and love,

m

sa-weet!

Championship belt baby!

Go Packers!

peace and love,

m

time to rant

Oh do I have to get some things off my chest! The events of the past 24 hours have left me wondering if I am the only person in the world with at least 2 brain cells to rub together. Here goes.

1. Inventory people. DO YOUR FARKING JOBS. Reorder the right supplies, let us know that you've reordered them, and when there are problems with the shipment, tell us so we know and can get the appropriate supplies from a different hospital! Is it so difficult? Communication, guys, communication. When I hand in a supply charge sheet with a certain sticker high-lighted and circled, and write "We need to order a lot more of these," that means WE NEED TO ORDER A LOT MORE OF THESE! I'm just lucky that the surgeon in this case was pleasant enough to deal with the issue and was able to MacGyver together a system that would work. Any of the other surgeons in his group would have thrown a shit fit. When someone in the inventory department is on vacation, or whatever, don't just ignore everything that s/he is responsible for. Cover it! I should never have to call the OR director into a room because instruments and supplies aren't available because no one ordered them!
2. People of Wisconsin. This is winter, this is snow, deal with it. Yes, it was a very big blizzard. No, that does not give you the excuse to act like a fucking moron and try to drive your car down the completely drifted alley. Have a little common sense. This is how it should go: you turn to go into the alley and see that it is drifted 2 feet high for the entire length. Oh, I shouldn't try to drive down this, I need to turn around. Because when you try to drive through the 2 foot drifts, you are going to get stuck, unless you have a Humvee or a tank. And you are going to get stuck right behind my car, which prevents me from getting to work, and causes me to be penalized for your farking stupidity! If there is one thing that I hate more than anything in the world, it's stupidity and the absolute bone-headedness of people.
3. Surgeons. You are not god. The world does not revolve around you. There are basic protocols that have to be followed, and there are basic courtesies that should be afforded to your patients. For example, when there is a side involved, i.e., a left ureter reimplantation, the side needs to be marked. Why? So you don't do surgery on the wrong side. And when your patient wants to see you before he signs the consent, don't get pissy. This is your patient. You are working for him. You are taking his life into your hands. I think that deserves a little respect. And if he wants to talk to you beforehand, you damn well better get your ass to the preop area and talk to him. I don't care that you've just sat down to dinner, your patient should come first. And oh my god, do not say to me, "God, what do you do, say 'Are you sure you don't want to talk to your surgeon before you sign the consent?' Are you just trying to delay things?" That is an insult to both me and to the patient. Of course I am not trying to delay things. I am advocating for the patient. It would be unconscionable to sedate the patient if s/he still has questions for the surgeon. Finally, you are the farking chief of surgery. You know the damn rules!

/end rant.

peace and love,

m

16 days into 2011

I finally took the Christmas tree down today. I did get a new ornament box, so the cardboard one took a trip to the dumpster this afternoon, although not before Tux sat in it for a spell ;) I mean, why waste a perfectly good box? Now he's perched on my lap...it makes it difficult to get things done when he is being such a sweetheart. I imagine it's to make up for climbing on the table and knocking over the bamboo that Lil Bro got me for Christmas!

In other news, there is no news. I work, eat, sleep, and repeat. I have an early start on Wednesday and a day off on Friday, so that's nice. It will be interesting getting up for a 7 am start...we all know how much of a morning person I am ;)

peace and love,

m