Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Realizations of my new job as a nurse!
1) No manicure will ever cure the excessive dryness from washing your hands repeatedly.
--Within one day of starting work, I developed hands as dry as sandpaper, and no lotion could penetrate them. I guess you could say the nurse with the soft hands is the one spreading germs.
2) You can give some people the world, and they still won't be happy.
--People who are admitted to the hospital often feel as though it is a hotel. Because of that mindset, we have to give them that hotel feeling to make them approve of the facility. Occasionally, there are those patients who, after receiving more care and attention than any one of your patients, will still never be happy.
3) Smiles make people like you, so don't be a grump.
--The comments I've gotten because of my smiley attitude have ranged from "You remind me of Santa's little elf, so happy all the time" to "You seem really cheerful. I like it!" to "You're probably the happiest nurse I've seen". However, if you smile at someone, they automatically think you have the time to take care of them too! That makes situations a little more difficult, but completely worth it.
4) It only takes one simple "thank you" to make your day better.
--I know it sounds cheesy, but there are some people who never thank you for all you do. When you hear a genuine "thank you very much" or "you are too good to me", it really makes you feel like all the hard work is worth it.
5) CA's are invaluable.
--It didn't take me too long to realize just how important it is to have people there to test your patient's blood sugars, take their vitals, wash them up, and ambulate them. These are a lot of little tasks that I know for a fact that I could not fit in even if I tried. Having constant help around is the best. I often find that CA's get to do the nurse's job (aside from passing medications and doing assessments) and we get stuck with the documentation. One of these days, I want that to change. I want more care at the bedside because that is what I love!
6) There are patients who struggle far more than you.
--Can you walk to the bathroom? Can you get out of bed on your own? Can you feed yourself? Can you enjoy your food without thickening it? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you are better off than most of the patients I take care of.
7) There are patients who struggle far less than you.
--This fact actually made me laugh. I took care of a patient recently who smoked for many many many years, had fluid around their lungs, congestive heart failure, pneumonia in their lungs, and a lesion on the lungs. They had an incredibly hard time breathing. Guess who beat me in lung function tests? That person. Small airways, big airways, an 80 year old patient whipped my butt when it came to breathing. Does it bring me down? No. Why? I'm not the one in the hospital. I also realize that my difficulty breathing came over time, while their issues may have developed a little more quickly. This is why you sometimes need to step back and analyze the situation. Their problem is not less important, and your problem is not more important.
8) You can never stop moving.
--I am nearly positive I am going to lose weight. There is hardly time for food, and if you don't prioritize correctly, you get incredibly behind and bogged down. That is something I will learn to do over time!
9) Documentation is a beast.
--I just saw a slide show the other day that said that an average nurse spends 1.7 hours out of a 12 hour shift at the patient's bedside. You can imagine what takes up a majority of time when it comes to patient care!
10) I still really have the urge to work pediatrics.
--I don't have to explain this one.
--Within one day of starting work, I developed hands as dry as sandpaper, and no lotion could penetrate them. I guess you could say the nurse with the soft hands is the one spreading germs.
2) You can give some people the world, and they still won't be happy.
--People who are admitted to the hospital often feel as though it is a hotel. Because of that mindset, we have to give them that hotel feeling to make them approve of the facility. Occasionally, there are those patients who, after receiving more care and attention than any one of your patients, will still never be happy.
3) Smiles make people like you, so don't be a grump.
--The comments I've gotten because of my smiley attitude have ranged from "You remind me of Santa's little elf, so happy all the time" to "You seem really cheerful. I like it!" to "You're probably the happiest nurse I've seen". However, if you smile at someone, they automatically think you have the time to take care of them too! That makes situations a little more difficult, but completely worth it.
4) It only takes one simple "thank you" to make your day better.
--I know it sounds cheesy, but there are some people who never thank you for all you do. When you hear a genuine "thank you very much" or "you are too good to me", it really makes you feel like all the hard work is worth it.
5) CA's are invaluable.
--It didn't take me too long to realize just how important it is to have people there to test your patient's blood sugars, take their vitals, wash them up, and ambulate them. These are a lot of little tasks that I know for a fact that I could not fit in even if I tried. Having constant help around is the best. I often find that CA's get to do the nurse's job (aside from passing medications and doing assessments) and we get stuck with the documentation. One of these days, I want that to change. I want more care at the bedside because that is what I love!
6) There are patients who struggle far more than you.
--Can you walk to the bathroom? Can you get out of bed on your own? Can you feed yourself? Can you enjoy your food without thickening it? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you are better off than most of the patients I take care of.
7) There are patients who struggle far less than you.
--This fact actually made me laugh. I took care of a patient recently who smoked for many many many years, had fluid around their lungs, congestive heart failure, pneumonia in their lungs, and a lesion on the lungs. They had an incredibly hard time breathing. Guess who beat me in lung function tests? That person. Small airways, big airways, an 80 year old patient whipped my butt when it came to breathing. Does it bring me down? No. Why? I'm not the one in the hospital. I also realize that my difficulty breathing came over time, while their issues may have developed a little more quickly. This is why you sometimes need to step back and analyze the situation. Their problem is not less important, and your problem is not more important.
8) You can never stop moving.
--I am nearly positive I am going to lose weight. There is hardly time for food, and if you don't prioritize correctly, you get incredibly behind and bogged down. That is something I will learn to do over time!
9) Documentation is a beast.
--I just saw a slide show the other day that said that an average nurse spends 1.7 hours out of a 12 hour shift at the patient's bedside. You can imagine what takes up a majority of time when it comes to patient care!
10) I still really have the urge to work pediatrics.
--I don't have to explain this one.
Monday, June 1, 2009
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Graduation.
So graduation is currently three days away. I'm absolutely thrilled to be done with school and to start making my own money. I've been finding it a bit irritating lately to read other people's journal entries on their graduations. The general pattern to all of the journals I have read is as follows: "I graduated. I'm not sure what to do. I have to worry about getting a job and getting a place to live and getting to the job I have. Oh what shall I do?"
Moving out into the real world is tough and I knew that from the beginning. It just makes me so nervous to read people's blogs and worry about some of their worries, but also my worries such as: "How will I live paying 20-40% of the cost of all my most expensive drugs? What if I can't work anymore down the road and I can't get back on disability? What happens if I am penalized because I wanted to actually try and WORK in society? Will I ever be able to move out? Is life insurance even an option for me? What if I get sick during my career? How will I keep up with my bills? And the big one: was this whole road even worth it in the end?"
Even with all of these worries, I know it will be alright. Things will fall into place. I will make it happen hopefully on my own. No one else is going to do my job for me and there is no way to lie to the system about who I am and what I have to deal with. So I am going to be forced to just do it. And I will because I am not someone who just gives up
Although most would try and justify my situation by saying, "Oh, Toni! You'll do fine! You'll get in there and love your job and you'll be healthy and they will find a cure for your disease and you can work for as long as you would like!" I know that won't happen anytime soon! So, being realistic, I made some choices for the new job I'm going into. A retirement plan? No way. Realistically a 401K would do me no good. By the time I could legally get to it, I probably wouldn't be so well off and to take it out early gives me a penalty. Why would I even want that? For some of my hard earned money to be taken away from me sounds ridiculous. Instead, I'll try and find an alternative to save my money. This of course would mean I would have to have money in the first place. Anywho.
Death benefits. Count me in! I'm not morbid. I'm realistic. Everyone dies and if you are gonna give me a decent chunk of change for it, why not. Life insurance. Count me in if I can be in. Problem with things like this is insurance companies often don't like people with pre-existing conditions. We go together like oil and water. "Oh, you have asthma? No way. We don't want you. And Diabetes too? Are you trying to kill us? And Cystic Fibrosis as well?!" They would run screaming from me. I mean after all, who wants to buy or put their money into a defective piece of property, and I mean that in the most realistic way possible. It's a legitimate question.
Finally, health insurance. I'm automatically in which is fantastic. It's a decent price every month and the coverage is great. The only thing not so great is prescription medications. Now we all know I take a couple of those. If I did not have insurance, I would be paying anywhere between $5,000 and $6,000 each month for my medications. Now those medications that cost the most will be covered the least by this insurance plan. So say I earned $200 each month and I was paying about $100 a month on my medications because of this "We'll only cover 20-40% of your expensive drugs" thing. You could imagine why I have more worries than the average Joe.
Ultimately, I am still very confused about everything that I have chosen to take and not take. I don't need to waste my money on things that realistically I will probably not be able to use in the future. But among all this, there is so much to be excited for.
1) I'm going to be a nurse.
2) I'm finally going to get healthy on June 8th in Philly.
3) I'm going to be the healthiest starting nurse there is.
4) I won't be on disability anymore so no one can say anything about me.
5) I still have over 60% of my lung function, if only everyone could be so lucky.
6) I'm graduating in only three days, and my dresses are awesome.
7) I'm going on a boat cruise tonight.
8) I get to see the majority of my family in three days.
9) I get to see Kenny Chesney before I go to Philly.
10) I get to see my cousin get married before I go to Philly.
And for the sake of everyone who has told me:
11) I still have all of my arms and legs.
I know sometimes I voice my concerns on here, but I just want everyone to know that I do it because some people just do not understand what I am going through. I figure if I can clue some people in, they may understand a little better. I don't do this to have people feel sorry for me, because what good would that do me? Maybe by doing this, I can get some suggestions about what I can possibly do to help me in the future. After all, I'm not the only sick person in this world, and there are some people out there who have it a million times worse than I do. I just want to have a worry-free, happy future, and I don't think that's too much to hope for.
Moving out into the real world is tough and I knew that from the beginning. It just makes me so nervous to read people's blogs and worry about some of their worries, but also my worries such as: "How will I live paying 20-40% of the cost of all my most expensive drugs? What if I can't work anymore down the road and I can't get back on disability? What happens if I am penalized because I wanted to actually try and WORK in society? Will I ever be able to move out? Is life insurance even an option for me? What if I get sick during my career? How will I keep up with my bills? And the big one: was this whole road even worth it in the end?"
Even with all of these worries, I know it will be alright. Things will fall into place. I will make it happen hopefully on my own. No one else is going to do my job for me and there is no way to lie to the system about who I am and what I have to deal with. So I am going to be forced to just do it. And I will because I am not someone who just gives up
Although most would try and justify my situation by saying, "Oh, Toni! You'll do fine! You'll get in there and love your job and you'll be healthy and they will find a cure for your disease and you can work for as long as you would like!" I know that won't happen anytime soon! So, being realistic, I made some choices for the new job I'm going into. A retirement plan? No way. Realistically a 401K would do me no good. By the time I could legally get to it, I probably wouldn't be so well off and to take it out early gives me a penalty. Why would I even want that? For some of my hard earned money to be taken away from me sounds ridiculous. Instead, I'll try and find an alternative to save my money. This of course would mean I would have to have money in the first place. Anywho.
Death benefits. Count me in! I'm not morbid. I'm realistic. Everyone dies and if you are gonna give me a decent chunk of change for it, why not. Life insurance. Count me in if I can be in. Problem with things like this is insurance companies often don't like people with pre-existing conditions. We go together like oil and water. "Oh, you have asthma? No way. We don't want you. And Diabetes too? Are you trying to kill us? And Cystic Fibrosis as well?!" They would run screaming from me. I mean after all, who wants to buy or put their money into a defective piece of property, and I mean that in the most realistic way possible. It's a legitimate question.
Finally, health insurance. I'm automatically in which is fantastic. It's a decent price every month and the coverage is great. The only thing not so great is prescription medications. Now we all know I take a couple of those. If I did not have insurance, I would be paying anywhere between $5,000 and $6,000 each month for my medications. Now those medications that cost the most will be covered the least by this insurance plan. So say I earned $200 each month and I was paying about $100 a month on my medications because of this "We'll only cover 20-40% of your expensive drugs" thing. You could imagine why I have more worries than the average Joe.
Ultimately, I am still very confused about everything that I have chosen to take and not take. I don't need to waste my money on things that realistically I will probably not be able to use in the future. But among all this, there is so much to be excited for.
1) I'm going to be a nurse.
2) I'm finally going to get healthy on June 8th in Philly.
3) I'm going to be the healthiest starting nurse there is.
4) I won't be on disability anymore so no one can say anything about me.
5) I still have over 60% of my lung function, if only everyone could be so lucky.
6) I'm graduating in only three days, and my dresses are awesome.
7) I'm going on a boat cruise tonight.
8) I get to see the majority of my family in three days.
9) I get to see Kenny Chesney before I go to Philly.
10) I get to see my cousin get married before I go to Philly.
And for the sake of everyone who has told me:
11) I still have all of my arms and legs.
I know sometimes I voice my concerns on here, but I just want everyone to know that I do it because some people just do not understand what I am going through. I figure if I can clue some people in, they may understand a little better. I don't do this to have people feel sorry for me, because what good would that do me? Maybe by doing this, I can get some suggestions about what I can possibly do to help me in the future. After all, I'm not the only sick person in this world, and there are some people out there who have it a million times worse than I do. I just want to have a worry-free, happy future, and I don't think that's too much to hope for.
Monday, May 4, 2009
New song!
I like this song the best out of all that I've written, and it may be a little rough but I still enjoy it. Let me know what you think about it (if you hate it or like it, how it could be improved, etc.) but keep in mind I'm still extremely rusty on guitar and such. That will never change. Haha.
One Time Only | Upload Music
One Time Only | Upload Music
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
I'm currently home alone, so I'll talk to the computer.
Great things:
Today is an amazing day. The weather is beautiful. Abby has been giving me cute faces all morning. The washer and dryer were empty so laundry didn't take too long. My room is clean. It's one of my days off. I have two movies I have never seen. My lungs are junky, but it's all moving really well! I'm figuring out how to work around the virus my computer has picked up. I think I'll go write a song.
Good things:
I slept in. I'm returning something I bought in order to have more money, and it feels good to be responsible. I don't have to start work until July 6, which gives me time to finish school, go to Justin and Ashley's wedding, and leaves me up to a month to get my health back in line. I confronted the rudest person in my nursing class last night. My hair still smells like yesterday's shampoo. My sheets and blankets are done being washed and dried.
Concerning things:
Though the mucus in my lungs is moving, I feel like I might just be getting an infection, again. ICU petrifies me and every time I get in my car for my internship, I shake from head to toe. I can't move "fast, fast, fast. You have to learn to be fast". I don't have the strength to pull 200+ pound people up in bed, but I'm not sure a lot of people my size post-broken arm would be able to either. Did I mention ICU petrifies me? Haha. For these being my concerning things, I would say I'm in pretty good shape right now.
Most concerning thing:
My dad's back and his lack of seeing a doctor. Once again, I'll say it. The worry you feel when I get sick is felt ten fold by me when you are in pain or get sick. Please fix it, and that will be one thing off my concern list.
Today is an amazing day. The weather is beautiful. Abby has been giving me cute faces all morning. The washer and dryer were empty so laundry didn't take too long. My room is clean. It's one of my days off. I have two movies I have never seen. My lungs are junky, but it's all moving really well! I'm figuring out how to work around the virus my computer has picked up. I think I'll go write a song.
Good things:
I slept in. I'm returning something I bought in order to have more money, and it feels good to be responsible. I don't have to start work until July 6, which gives me time to finish school, go to Justin and Ashley's wedding, and leaves me up to a month to get my health back in line. I confronted the rudest person in my nursing class last night. My hair still smells like yesterday's shampoo. My sheets and blankets are done being washed and dried.
Concerning things:
Though the mucus in my lungs is moving, I feel like I might just be getting an infection, again. ICU petrifies me and every time I get in my car for my internship, I shake from head to toe. I can't move "fast, fast, fast. You have to learn to be fast". I don't have the strength to pull 200+ pound people up in bed, but I'm not sure a lot of people my size post-broken arm would be able to either. Did I mention ICU petrifies me? Haha. For these being my concerning things, I would say I'm in pretty good shape right now.
Most concerning thing:
My dad's back and his lack of seeing a doctor. Once again, I'll say it. The worry you feel when I get sick is felt ten fold by me when you are in pain or get sick. Please fix it, and that will be one thing off my concern list.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Reality is awesome. Here's a dose.
I often wonder if I am a mean person. Everyone is mean from time to time. But sometimes I think the "mean" in me is just reality trying to force itself out of my mouth. I tend to judge situations people are going through after I have a bit of an idea who they are and how they respond to life. I don't do so blindly. I would never tell someone to stop complaining if I didn't think it was something they could have prevented or a situation where there are many many people who have it worse. So this is my issue. I have finally decided that I will stop reading a certain blog that I read. Every time I read it, it is complaint after complaint, a cry for pity and attention. I keep reiterating my opinion in a very blunt manner.
My mind goes through a certain process when I respond to this blog. First I try to think of what she goes through, but there is always another side to the issue. 'Yes, you have CF. So do many other people. Yes you have lots of mental issues, ranging from depression, to PTSD, to fibromyalgia, but so do many other people. Sure your lungs are quitting on you and of course I understand that you get out of breath doing tasks, but I know people personally who have less lung function than you that don't let it eat away at them and are still able to at least shower in the morning.'
I take care of patients all the time that are far worse off than this person, and they choose to do something about it, to truly put their foot down and take control of their life that is spinning out of control. Those who do nothing to help themselves are giving up on life. When someone gives up on life and begins the down hill process, they receive attention and pity and condolence, and if that is what you are seeking, then it would make sense to not help yourself. If life wasn't hard, we wouldn't benefit from it. If people didn't have abnormalities, diseases, etc., there would be no "normal". I've tried to see it from her perspective for a while now, but I just can't. As I told her once before, in the words of Hannah Montana (Yes, I know I'm 20 years old), "Life's what you make it, so let's make it rock."
I know a lot of people will think I am cruel, and mean, and just flat out... the devil. The thing with this though is that I go through a lot of what she goes through. We are roughly the same age. Her lungs are a little worse than mine, but regardless of how bad off we are, we have at least one thing in common: we can't breathe well. The difference? I don't wallow in my situation until it consumes me. I don't blame others for my problems. In a sense, I try my hardest to take the bull by the horns and live a normal life. I'm not saying she doesn't try, because everyone with CF tries their hardest to get away from it, but when bad comes, I try just a little harder not to let it consume my whole being.
I found a song within the past month that just sums up life in general. The chorus is what everyone should live by. The song is "Sounds Like Life To Me" by Darryl Worley. It talks about a guy who finds his friend struggling with his issues and his life and, in a sense, everything. His words of advice are awesome. They go as follows:
Sounds like life to me.
Aint no destiny.
The only thing for certain is uncertainty.
You gotta hold on tight.
Just enjoy the ride.
Get used to all this unpredictability.
Sounds like life.
Man, I know its tough but you gotta suck it up.
To hear you talk you're caught up in some tragedy.
...Sounds like life to me.
My mind goes through a certain process when I respond to this blog. First I try to think of what she goes through, but there is always another side to the issue. 'Yes, you have CF. So do many other people. Yes you have lots of mental issues, ranging from depression, to PTSD, to fibromyalgia, but so do many other people. Sure your lungs are quitting on you and of course I understand that you get out of breath doing tasks, but I know people personally who have less lung function than you that don't let it eat away at them and are still able to at least shower in the morning.'
I take care of patients all the time that are far worse off than this person, and they choose to do something about it, to truly put their foot down and take control of their life that is spinning out of control. Those who do nothing to help themselves are giving up on life. When someone gives up on life and begins the down hill process, they receive attention and pity and condolence, and if that is what you are seeking, then it would make sense to not help yourself. If life wasn't hard, we wouldn't benefit from it. If people didn't have abnormalities, diseases, etc., there would be no "normal". I've tried to see it from her perspective for a while now, but I just can't. As I told her once before, in the words of Hannah Montana (Yes, I know I'm 20 years old), "Life's what you make it, so let's make it rock."
I know a lot of people will think I am cruel, and mean, and just flat out... the devil. The thing with this though is that I go through a lot of what she goes through. We are roughly the same age. Her lungs are a little worse than mine, but regardless of how bad off we are, we have at least one thing in common: we can't breathe well. The difference? I don't wallow in my situation until it consumes me. I don't blame others for my problems. In a sense, I try my hardest to take the bull by the horns and live a normal life. I'm not saying she doesn't try, because everyone with CF tries their hardest to get away from it, but when bad comes, I try just a little harder not to let it consume my whole being.
I found a song within the past month that just sums up life in general. The chorus is what everyone should live by. The song is "Sounds Like Life To Me" by Darryl Worley. It talks about a guy who finds his friend struggling with his issues and his life and, in a sense, everything. His words of advice are awesome. They go as follows:
Sounds like life to me.
Aint no destiny.
The only thing for certain is uncertainty.
You gotta hold on tight.
Just enjoy the ride.
Get used to all this unpredictability.
Sounds like life.
Man, I know its tough but you gotta suck it up.
To hear you talk you're caught up in some tragedy.
...Sounds like life to me.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Monday, March 9, 2009
Just in case.
I posted a new song on my MySpace. It isn't wizard rock, but rather a real song that I wrote. Just in case you haven't listened to it, the site is www.myspace.com/nbotwizardrock. It will only be up for a limited amount of time. The song is called "I've Paid My Dues". I decided I would give a quick explanation about it.
For the past few years, I have been collecting social security. I don't do it because I want to, I do it because I have to. Never in my life do I want to be considered a welfare rat, and I don't think I am. The only reason I collect on this benefit is because I have difficulty holding a job and doing school at the same time. It is not for a lack of trying. I used to do the work/study program at school, and I would work about 6 hours a week tops. This alone got me so sick and worn out that I ended up in the hospital. I get sick when I do too much. While others can handle doing school and having a job, I find it extremely difficult. If you were to ask a majority of Cystics, I would bet they would tell you the same thing. Of course, there are a select few that push themselves entirely too hard every day and ignore their disease and its progressive deterioration. But I digress. I'm getting off track.
The reason I wrote this song was because I was feeling really rotten about collecting money I didn't think I deserved. I've had remarks thrown my way about my social security that made me feel so little and undeserving it would make anyone cringe. The one thing that has been said to me that has stuck with me the longest is the following. After I told someone I was getting social security benefits, and then I got my new car (because my last one was falling apart and got broken into), their reply was "It must be nice to have a free car." Let me clarify to anyone who has this mindset: This money does not allow me to live "for free". This money just allows me to live and not be a burden to my family while I try and achieve a lasting career. I'm not a nobody who doesn't deserve what I get. I get that money for all the hospitalizations, the missed time out of my life, the pain of procedures, the isolation, and in a sense, just dealing with a chronic disease that I know is going to slowly rob me of anything and everything. So no. My life is not free. I do work for my money, even if it isn't what most people do to work for their money.
I don't mean to be a downer here, because that is not what this is about! I feel great about life right now, I just felt like I should clarify how I think and feel, and maybe people would be more accepting of the choices I'm forced to make. I've paid my dues, now let me be.
For the past few years, I have been collecting social security. I don't do it because I want to, I do it because I have to. Never in my life do I want to be considered a welfare rat, and I don't think I am. The only reason I collect on this benefit is because I have difficulty holding a job and doing school at the same time. It is not for a lack of trying. I used to do the work/study program at school, and I would work about 6 hours a week tops. This alone got me so sick and worn out that I ended up in the hospital. I get sick when I do too much. While others can handle doing school and having a job, I find it extremely difficult. If you were to ask a majority of Cystics, I would bet they would tell you the same thing. Of course, there are a select few that push themselves entirely too hard every day and ignore their disease and its progressive deterioration. But I digress. I'm getting off track.
The reason I wrote this song was because I was feeling really rotten about collecting money I didn't think I deserved. I've had remarks thrown my way about my social security that made me feel so little and undeserving it would make anyone cringe. The one thing that has been said to me that has stuck with me the longest is the following. After I told someone I was getting social security benefits, and then I got my new car (because my last one was falling apart and got broken into), their reply was "It must be nice to have a free car." Let me clarify to anyone who has this mindset: This money does not allow me to live "for free". This money just allows me to live and not be a burden to my family while I try and achieve a lasting career. I'm not a nobody who doesn't deserve what I get. I get that money for all the hospitalizations, the missed time out of my life, the pain of procedures, the isolation, and in a sense, just dealing with a chronic disease that I know is going to slowly rob me of anything and everything. So no. My life is not free. I do work for my money, even if it isn't what most people do to work for their money.
I don't mean to be a downer here, because that is not what this is about! I feel great about life right now, I just felt like I should clarify how I think and feel, and maybe people would be more accepting of the choices I'm forced to make. I've paid my dues, now let me be.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Hypochondriac.
I am a hypochondriac. I've come to that conclusion. I'm even more predisposed to it because I have several illnesses and I am a nursing major. I think the only thing I have to question now is if thinking I'm a hypochondriac is just proving my point. Love it.
Oh, and in case I'm not geek enough, I have made my own wizard rock music. If you want to hear it in all of its terribleness, go to www.myspace.com/nbotwizardrock. If you weren't aware of what wizard rock is, it's making up songs that are 100% about Harry Potter and the books or anything related to it. The genre is legit. Google it.
Oh, and in case I'm not geek enough, I have made my own wizard rock music. If you want to hear it in all of its terribleness, go to www.myspace.com/nbotwizardrock. If you weren't aware of what wizard rock is, it's making up songs that are 100% about Harry Potter and the books or anything related to it. The genre is legit. Google it.
Friday, February 20, 2009
I just don't get it.
Today in society, we have more and more people going on welfare just because they don't want to work. That is the laziest thing anyone could do. I think if you can work, you should work, but in my mind, there comes an age where someone should be allowed a break, an age where receiving the benefits of welfare is alright if they have no savings to work with, which is common in these economic times. The following video absolutely breaks my heart because no one should have to work for their whole entire life to support themselves.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
One more for luck!
This was a survey thing I found. It's basically just to let people know 25 random facts, goals, or habits you have. Have fun reading it, because this is me.
1. Harry Potter is like a drug to me.
2. I'm apparently very picky when it comes to guys because I think brains are important, as well as a big nose.
3. I like to live a simple life. I like things cheap and I like things from the heart.
4. My plans for the future are to marry in a courthouse, and invite people to party after. No dress. No fancy things.
5. I hate jewelry and flowers.
6. Leggings bother me.
7. I'm a very solitary person, and I enjoy it.
8. I have very few good friends, and those that I have, I love with my whole being.
9. When I die, I'm donating my body to science.
10. I ultimately want to be a pediatric nurse in Philly, but for now I've accepted a job at the Arnot that I'm not so sure I'm 100% looking forward to.
11. Nothing makes me happier than getting together with other Cystics and seeing what they go through.
12. Movies often consume my life. I could watch a million movies in a row and never be bored.
13. In my 20 years of life, I have only ever had one guest (who was my friend) visit me in the hospital in Philly. (Sidenote: I've had several of my mom's friends that I love visit me, but none of my school friends. I appreciate all the visitors, regardless!)
14. I sleep in sub-arctic temperatures.
15. I used to disguise my coughs as sneezes so my parents wouldn't tell me to do my treatments. To this day, people still say bless you when I cough.
16. I wish I was related to Obama because I love him that much.
17. At the rate I'm going, I'm afraid that my lungs will give out on me by the age of 30.
18. I don't know if I would ever get a transplant.
19. If anything ever happened to my family, I wouldn't be able to go on.
20. I am ridiculously strong emotionally, even if it gets to me on occasion.
21. If I can get a solid five years in the career of nursing under my belt, I will die happy.
22. I'm going to visit London in my lifetime.
23. I'm going to meet Kyle Cease, Harry and the Potters, and Jo Rowling (again) in my lifetime.
24. I am the fattest Cystic I know and it's getting pretty depressing.
25. I am going to start producing some wizard rock music. I just need to find the rest of my band...
1. Harry Potter is like a drug to me.
2. I'm apparently very picky when it comes to guys because I think brains are important, as well as a big nose.
3. I like to live a simple life. I like things cheap and I like things from the heart.
4. My plans for the future are to marry in a courthouse, and invite people to party after. No dress. No fancy things.
5. I hate jewelry and flowers.
6. Leggings bother me.
7. I'm a very solitary person, and I enjoy it.
8. I have very few good friends, and those that I have, I love with my whole being.
9. When I die, I'm donating my body to science.
10. I ultimately want to be a pediatric nurse in Philly, but for now I've accepted a job at the Arnot that I'm not so sure I'm 100% looking forward to.
11. Nothing makes me happier than getting together with other Cystics and seeing what they go through.
12. Movies often consume my life. I could watch a million movies in a row and never be bored.
13. In my 20 years of life, I have only ever had one guest (who was my friend) visit me in the hospital in Philly. (Sidenote: I've had several of my mom's friends that I love visit me, but none of my school friends. I appreciate all the visitors, regardless!)
14. I sleep in sub-arctic temperatures.
15. I used to disguise my coughs as sneezes so my parents wouldn't tell me to do my treatments. To this day, people still say bless you when I cough.
16. I wish I was related to Obama because I love him that much.
17. At the rate I'm going, I'm afraid that my lungs will give out on me by the age of 30.
18. I don't know if I would ever get a transplant.
19. If anything ever happened to my family, I wouldn't be able to go on.
20. I am ridiculously strong emotionally, even if it gets to me on occasion.
21. If I can get a solid five years in the career of nursing under my belt, I will die happy.
22. I'm going to visit London in my lifetime.
23. I'm going to meet Kyle Cease, Harry and the Potters, and Jo Rowling (again) in my lifetime.
24. I am the fattest Cystic I know and it's getting pretty depressing.
25. I am going to start producing some wizard rock music. I just need to find the rest of my band...
I'm being a post-a-holic tonight.
I was going through my old notes I wrote on Facebook when I found this. I didn't make it up, but its copied and pasted. I found it hysterical.
You know you have CF when:
1. You know more medical terms by the age of ten than most people know their whole lives.
2. You have your pharmacist, family doctor, CF doctor, the emergency room that you always use and your medical insurance company as numbers 1-10 on your cell phone's speed dial.
3. You have come to the conclusion that your doctors are idiots most days and have the best working hours in the whole wide world—are they ever at work?
4. You have multiple scars from PICC lines, IV's and other 'experimentations' as the doctors like to call them.
5. You are so used to getting blood drawn that you are the proverbial 'test dummy' for all the new nurse fresh out of college—you don't mind do ya?!
6. You flip out when someone has an open cut, puts peroxide on it and then blows on the peroxide because it stings--- HELLO—germs are in your mouth too!!
7. You get equally annoyed when someone lays a towel on that open cut and states- but it's a clean towel—did you disinfect it? NO!
8. You have antibacterial gel in your purse, in your car, on the kitchen counter, in the bathroom, in your friend's dorm, their car— hell everywhere!
9. You can smell smoke hundreds of feet away and go searching for the source so you can thump them upside their retarded heads!
10. You quite adamantly think that smokers are some of the dumbest people you know—I always love it when they walk up a flight of stairs huffing and then say they NEED a cigarette! WHAT?!
11. You laugh at those who cry and moan from a common cold or worse yet stay home because of it!
12. You are truly sad for those cute little lab mice who must suffer from experimentations so we can have medicines to help us live— for about 1 milli-second than you jump for glee because they came up with something to help you breathe!
13. You can instruct the nurses how to work the IV machine at the hospital.
14. Some of the most memorable times with your friends include hanging out and wasting time at the hospital.
15. You have also learned who your real friends are because most people can't take the pressure of being around a person who has CF. (Sidenote: Not true at all.)
16. You make people wince on a daily basis because of the sound of your cough.
17. The checkout lady at Wal-Mart has confidently told you that she just got over what ever she had and Theraflu worked for her, which you calmly and sarcastically say—I will make sure to tell my doctors.
18. You can sleep through anything—you perfected the skill by being shaken by your vest all of these years.
19. You are a multitasker by need. While doing you're vest you MUST eat breakfast, do your nebulizers, homework, make-up, straighten your hair and have a conversation with your mother about your most current ache in your chest all at once or it would never get done.
20. You learn by the age of 15 that life is a gift and most people don't see it's pretty paper!
21. You have used you vest multiple times as a torment device for your dog by blowing air at him and watching him try to catch it in his mouth, entertainment device for the kids because a shaking vest is a fun 'toy' and a laughing tool for the adults when you try to talk to keep up with the conversation, even on the maximum setting.
22. Many adults have commented to you that you are very wise for your age.
23. You really did have a midlife crisis at the age of 18—what the hell do I do now, I wasn't suppose to make it this far!
24. If Albuterol and Xopenex were living things you would marry them because according to you they were sent from heaven to us CFers for a little help in the breathing department.
25. You laugh at your friends and their newest drama—haha! Don't we all wish it was THAT easy!
26. You get truly pissed at people who don't put yes as organ donors on their driver's license—what the hell are you going to do with them when you're dead, huh?!
27. You feel as if there is ALWAYS someone worse off than you somewhere.
28. You are constantly on the go, realizing that time stands still for no one.
29. You grew up thinking that everyone in your class does machines, nebulizers, inhalers, sprays and pills for an hour or two each morning before they came to school and an hour or two after.
30. You are more scared of losing your loved ones, family and friends then you are of dying your self.
31. You truly feel that you have this for a reason and, damn it, you're going to make people proud!
32. You realize at an extremely young age that you can buy everything but time and as a CFer, that is the one thing you would love to have!
Some of you will understand it all but most won't-- this is mostly for all the CFer's out there living and working each day to breathe.
You know you have CF when:
1. You know more medical terms by the age of ten than most people know their whole lives.
2. You have your pharmacist, family doctor, CF doctor, the emergency room that you always use and your medical insurance company as numbers 1-10 on your cell phone's speed dial.
3. You have come to the conclusion that your doctors are idiots most days and have the best working hours in the whole wide world—are they ever at work?
4. You have multiple scars from PICC lines, IV's and other 'experimentations' as the doctors like to call them.
5. You are so used to getting blood drawn that you are the proverbial 'test dummy' for all the new nurse fresh out of college—you don't mind do ya?!
6. You flip out when someone has an open cut, puts peroxide on it and then blows on the peroxide because it stings--- HELLO—germs are in your mouth too!!
7. You get equally annoyed when someone lays a towel on that open cut and states- but it's a clean towel—did you disinfect it? NO!
8. You have antibacterial gel in your purse, in your car, on the kitchen counter, in the bathroom, in your friend's dorm, their car— hell everywhere!
9. You can smell smoke hundreds of feet away and go searching for the source so you can thump them upside their retarded heads!
10. You quite adamantly think that smokers are some of the dumbest people you know—I always love it when they walk up a flight of stairs huffing and then say they NEED a cigarette! WHAT?!
11. You laugh at those who cry and moan from a common cold or worse yet stay home because of it!
12. You are truly sad for those cute little lab mice who must suffer from experimentations so we can have medicines to help us live— for about 1 milli-second than you jump for glee because they came up with something to help you breathe!
13. You can instruct the nurses how to work the IV machine at the hospital.
14. Some of the most memorable times with your friends include hanging out and wasting time at the hospital.
15. You have also learned who your real friends are because most people can't take the pressure of being around a person who has CF. (Sidenote: Not true at all.)
16. You make people wince on a daily basis because of the sound of your cough.
17. The checkout lady at Wal-Mart has confidently told you that she just got over what ever she had and Theraflu worked for her, which you calmly and sarcastically say—I will make sure to tell my doctors.
18. You can sleep through anything—you perfected the skill by being shaken by your vest all of these years.
19. You are a multitasker by need. While doing you're vest you MUST eat breakfast, do your nebulizers, homework, make-up, straighten your hair and have a conversation with your mother about your most current ache in your chest all at once or it would never get done.
20. You learn by the age of 15 that life is a gift and most people don't see it's pretty paper!
21. You have used you vest multiple times as a torment device for your dog by blowing air at him and watching him try to catch it in his mouth, entertainment device for the kids because a shaking vest is a fun 'toy' and a laughing tool for the adults when you try to talk to keep up with the conversation, even on the maximum setting.
22. Many adults have commented to you that you are very wise for your age.
23. You really did have a midlife crisis at the age of 18—what the hell do I do now, I wasn't suppose to make it this far!
24. If Albuterol and Xopenex were living things you would marry them because according to you they were sent from heaven to us CFers for a little help in the breathing department.
25. You laugh at your friends and their newest drama—haha! Don't we all wish it was THAT easy!
26. You get truly pissed at people who don't put yes as organ donors on their driver's license—what the hell are you going to do with them when you're dead, huh?!
27. You feel as if there is ALWAYS someone worse off than you somewhere.
28. You are constantly on the go, realizing that time stands still for no one.
29. You grew up thinking that everyone in your class does machines, nebulizers, inhalers, sprays and pills for an hour or two each morning before they came to school and an hour or two after.
30. You are more scared of losing your loved ones, family and friends then you are of dying your self.
31. You truly feel that you have this for a reason and, damn it, you're going to make people proud!
32. You realize at an extremely young age that you can buy everything but time and as a CFer, that is the one thing you would love to have!
Some of you will understand it all but most won't-- this is mostly for all the CFer's out there living and working each day to breathe.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
The things I notice.
For some reason, I have been paying particular attention to what has happened today. It's been a completely normal day, but some things have stuck out to me. I noticed the following things.
I went to the bank to activate my new debit card, and every time I go into my bank, I always smell the same thing. The smell of the bank is the strangest thing ever, but yet I love it. It never smells different, and I always think it should smell bad with all the grubby money that it holds, but it doesn't. The smell is entirely pleasing to my nostrils. If that's not random, then I don't know what is.
Another thing I noticed today is the toilets with the sensors in the mall. It seems that they always flush at the most inconvenient times, such as WHILE you are going to the bathroom, or WHILE you are trying to finish up. I may be alone in this, but I can never get those toilets to cooperate with me. I feel so dirty after I use them, that I want to take several showers. Of course, the one thing they don't do is flush when you are actually done. Sensors are pure genius and whoever thought of them should get a round of freakin' applause.
One major thing I noticed today is that people don't listen. I went to get prescriptions filled today at the Guthrie pharmacy. The first thing I said directly to the lady in charge was, "I don't want this length of insulin needle, I need the half inch ones." I said this a total of 3 times before she sent my script back to be filled. What do I get a half an hour later? Short needles. I swear I was about to throw the box at her just to teach her a lesson. Perhaps I should just go buy her a thing of Q-tips to clean out her ears. She always messes up my prescriptions.
Next in line of random things I noticed: soda prices. I've taken to diet soda since my hospital stay, trying to be a good diabetic. What I don't understand is that while a 20 oz. of diet Pepsi is about $1.49, a 2 liter is just the same price or even a little less. Who in the world wouldn't take a deal like that. It doesn't make sense to me. If buying a 20 oz. is solely for the convenience of carrying it around everywhere with you, then I say, let me carry a 2 liter. I might get looked at strange, but at least I saved some money.
Last on the list is returning movies. I pulled up aside Blockbuster to return Mirrors and I got out to put it in the slot, while leaving my car on in the fire lane for about 30 seconds. It got me wondering why thieves don't hover next to movie return slots. If you want to steal a car, that is the perfect way to do it. Just run into the car while the person is returning their movie, and bam, it's ready to go. Keys in the ignition, door most likely slightly open so as not to cause a ruckus when you are so carefully sliding in. It's perfect. Maybe if the economy gets any worse, I will pick up this job. Sometimes I think I am sheer genius.
I went to the bank to activate my new debit card, and every time I go into my bank, I always smell the same thing. The smell of the bank is the strangest thing ever, but yet I love it. It never smells different, and I always think it should smell bad with all the grubby money that it holds, but it doesn't. The smell is entirely pleasing to my nostrils. If that's not random, then I don't know what is.
Another thing I noticed today is the toilets with the sensors in the mall. It seems that they always flush at the most inconvenient times, such as WHILE you are going to the bathroom, or WHILE you are trying to finish up. I may be alone in this, but I can never get those toilets to cooperate with me. I feel so dirty after I use them, that I want to take several showers. Of course, the one thing they don't do is flush when you are actually done. Sensors are pure genius and whoever thought of them should get a round of freakin' applause.
One major thing I noticed today is that people don't listen. I went to get prescriptions filled today at the Guthrie pharmacy. The first thing I said directly to the lady in charge was, "I don't want this length of insulin needle, I need the half inch ones." I said this a total of 3 times before she sent my script back to be filled. What do I get a half an hour later? Short needles. I swear I was about to throw the box at her just to teach her a lesson. Perhaps I should just go buy her a thing of Q-tips to clean out her ears. She always messes up my prescriptions.
Next in line of random things I noticed: soda prices. I've taken to diet soda since my hospital stay, trying to be a good diabetic. What I don't understand is that while a 20 oz. of diet Pepsi is about $1.49, a 2 liter is just the same price or even a little less. Who in the world wouldn't take a deal like that. It doesn't make sense to me. If buying a 20 oz. is solely for the convenience of carrying it around everywhere with you, then I say, let me carry a 2 liter. I might get looked at strange, but at least I saved some money.
Last on the list is returning movies. I pulled up aside Blockbuster to return Mirrors and I got out to put it in the slot, while leaving my car on in the fire lane for about 30 seconds. It got me wondering why thieves don't hover next to movie return slots. If you want to steal a car, that is the perfect way to do it. Just run into the car while the person is returning their movie, and bam, it's ready to go. Keys in the ignition, door most likely slightly open so as not to cause a ruckus when you are so carefully sliding in. It's perfect. Maybe if the economy gets any worse, I will pick up this job. Sometimes I think I am sheer genius.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Obama.
So far, I love the man. I love the policies he's enforcing. I love the reversal of everything ex-president Bush (oh, it feels good to say that) has done. Although he's only been in office for four days, I truly think he is going to turn the US around. Just thought I'd say.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Employment.
Just a quick entry here. I didn't get the job at Geisinger. They said that they found someone with more experience and more strength for the position. I was almost relieved to hear that, though I can't pin point why. BUT! I got offered a position at Arnot after all! I accepted it today and I will probably start working on June 22. The position is a day/evening float position, which includes working on any of the med/surg floors such as orthopedics, telemetry, oncology, or neurology. I'm not especially fond of any of them, but I may find that being a nurse as opposed to a nursing student might make it a little more enjoyable. I won't have as many of the aide's responsibilities and that may make it easier to enjoy. The only downfall is that it's not children, and I might have to take care of some geriatric patients which is definitely not my thing. Regardless, I think that nursing is nursing, no matter who I'm taking care of. All I want to do is help those who need it the most and that's what I'll be doing no matter what the population may be. Heck, maybe I'll even fine a handsome doctor to run off into the sunset with. Ah, love.
Monday, January 19, 2009
So I'm finally updating.
Hello again! I haven't been writing because I haven't been in the mood. I'm not now either, but I figure that those who want an update deserve an update. I've only been in 7 days so far. I'm feeling a little better, but I know that I'm not 100%. Stairs tire me out and breathing is actually getting a little more difficult after I had a few days of decent breathing. Nothing in my chest is moving. Breathing treatments don't feel like they are doing much. But on the other hand, I can't be positive that things aren't getting better. Sometimes my body plays tricks on me like that.
Tomorrow I get more PFT's done and, according to my current doctor, if they haven't improved, he has a new plan of action. I will go on a different antibiotic for at least a week, which means I will be missing even more school than expected. If my numbers are better, maybe I'll be out by the end of the week. I can only hope. I'm keeping a tally of the amount of clinicals I'm missing, and most importantly, I'm keeping track of whether or not I'll be able to do the assignment I had wanted to do for nursing. We have a health promotion project that is due by the end of the term, but it requires a lot of work and research. My project is to do Girl Talk, which the Guthrie used to do for young girls. It's basically talking to girls about their growing bodies and the changes they will go through and getting them prepared to become a woman. I really like to do it, and if I'm not out in time to get research done and such, then I won't be able to, and I will have to come up with another option all on my own. I can't get too far ahead of myself though. I need to maintain a positive attitude amidst the turmoil that is currently my life.
It's not like I've never gone through something like this, so I know I am capable of making it up. The problem is, how much is the school going to be ABLE to help me make up. For every clinical I miss and have to make up, the school has to pay the facility and the instructor. I feel that Elmira makes enough money that they can do this, and they could probably pay the instructors much better, actually, but they are only required to make "reasonable accommodations", and who knows what they consider "reasonable". Regardless of the situation, I need to get better. It won't do me any good to let myself go and get too sick to even get through school. I've been concerned with the possibility of being a five year senior, but if I'm really true to myself, I wouldn't care if it took ten years to become a nurse. I would do it. This stay is the first time in my life I have had a doctor come right out and tell me that he totally agrees with my choice to become a nurse. He said that it's a great choice because I will have the empathy and compassion to do it. Hopefully, I'll also have one of the good-looking, Harry Potter loving residents too. Hey, a girl can dream. =]
To add to my quick list of worries, I'm afraid my blood sugar is going to plummet and go so low that I go comatose. Not funny, but it would prove some doctors wrong. After expressing my concern about weight gained every time I come in the hospital, the doctor told me to stop ordering extra food, which I do because the small portions don't fulfill my hunger. Not to mention, with a CF diet, all my small portions are infused with fat and calories, so ordering more is like a death sentence for someone wishing to not gain weight. Anyway, I told said doctor that I eat because I am hungry, not because I'm bored. I told him that even when my intestines feel full of food, my stomach itself can still be growling, and that is when I eat. His response: stop eating when your starving... I'm not sure how I'm supposed to do that. Usually when people are hungry they eat. I am the same way. So I decided this morning to eat very little, well I guess it wasn't my decision, they didn't give me a menu for the previous day so I didn't get what I wanted, so my breakfast consisted of scrambled eggs and a hot cocoa. So I'm just waiting for my blood sugar to plummet after eating a whole 15 grams of carbohydrates and taking 13 units of humalog. That'll teach them. Them being... Oh it won't teach anyone anything. I'll just look like an idiot. Actually, I better go get an apple juice.
Tomorrow I get more PFT's done and, according to my current doctor, if they haven't improved, he has a new plan of action. I will go on a different antibiotic for at least a week, which means I will be missing even more school than expected. If my numbers are better, maybe I'll be out by the end of the week. I can only hope. I'm keeping a tally of the amount of clinicals I'm missing, and most importantly, I'm keeping track of whether or not I'll be able to do the assignment I had wanted to do for nursing. We have a health promotion project that is due by the end of the term, but it requires a lot of work and research. My project is to do Girl Talk, which the Guthrie used to do for young girls. It's basically talking to girls about their growing bodies and the changes they will go through and getting them prepared to become a woman. I really like to do it, and if I'm not out in time to get research done and such, then I won't be able to, and I will have to come up with another option all on my own. I can't get too far ahead of myself though. I need to maintain a positive attitude amidst the turmoil that is currently my life.
It's not like I've never gone through something like this, so I know I am capable of making it up. The problem is, how much is the school going to be ABLE to help me make up. For every clinical I miss and have to make up, the school has to pay the facility and the instructor. I feel that Elmira makes enough money that they can do this, and they could probably pay the instructors much better, actually, but they are only required to make "reasonable accommodations", and who knows what they consider "reasonable". Regardless of the situation, I need to get better. It won't do me any good to let myself go and get too sick to even get through school. I've been concerned with the possibility of being a five year senior, but if I'm really true to myself, I wouldn't care if it took ten years to become a nurse. I would do it. This stay is the first time in my life I have had a doctor come right out and tell me that he totally agrees with my choice to become a nurse. He said that it's a great choice because I will have the empathy and compassion to do it. Hopefully, I'll also have one of the good-looking, Harry Potter loving residents too. Hey, a girl can dream. =]
To add to my quick list of worries, I'm afraid my blood sugar is going to plummet and go so low that I go comatose. Not funny, but it would prove some doctors wrong. After expressing my concern about weight gained every time I come in the hospital, the doctor told me to stop ordering extra food, which I do because the small portions don't fulfill my hunger. Not to mention, with a CF diet, all my small portions are infused with fat and calories, so ordering more is like a death sentence for someone wishing to not gain weight. Anyway, I told said doctor that I eat because I am hungry, not because I'm bored. I told him that even when my intestines feel full of food, my stomach itself can still be growling, and that is when I eat. His response: stop eating when your starving... I'm not sure how I'm supposed to do that. Usually when people are hungry they eat. I am the same way. So I decided this morning to eat very little, well I guess it wasn't my decision, they didn't give me a menu for the previous day so I didn't get what I wanted, so my breakfast consisted of scrambled eggs and a hot cocoa. So I'm just waiting for my blood sugar to plummet after eating a whole 15 grams of carbohydrates and taking 13 units of humalog. That'll teach them. Them being... Oh it won't teach anyone anything. I'll just look like an idiot. Actually, I better go get an apple juice.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Why men are happier.
Cheri forwarded this email to me, and I found it highly amusing!
Why Men Are Happier
What do you expect from such simple creatures? Your last name stays put. The garage is all yours. Wedding plans take care of themselves. Chocolate is just another snack. You can be President. You can never be pregnant. You can wear a white T-shirt to a water park. You can wear NO shirt to a water park. Car mechanics tell you the truth. The world is your urinal. You never have to drive to another gas station restroom because this one is just too icky. You don't have to stop and think of which way to turn a nut on a bolt. Same work, more pay. Wrinkles add character. Wedding dress $5000. Tux rental-$100. People never stare at your chest when you're talking to them. The occasional well-rendered belch is practically expected. New shoes don't cut, blister, or mangle your feet. One mood all the time.
Phone conversations are over in 30 seconds flat. You know stuff about tanks. A five-day vacation requires only one suitcase. You can open all your own jars. You get extra credit for the slightest act of thoughtfulness. If someone forgets to invite you, he or she can still be your friend.
Your underwear is $8.95 for a three-pack. Three pairs of shoes are more than enough. You almost never have strap problems in public. You are unable to see wrinkles in your clothes. Everything on your face stays its original color. The same hairstyle lasts for years, maybe decades. You only have to shave your face and neck.
You can play with toys all your life. Your belly usually hides your big hips. One wallet and one pair of shoes -- one color for all seasons. You can wear shorts no matter how your legs look. You can "do" your nails with a pocket knife. You have freedom of choice concerning growing a mustache.
You can do Christmas shopping for 25 relatives on December 24 in 25 minutes.
No wonder men are happier.
Why Men Are Happier
What do you expect from such simple creatures? Your last name stays put. The garage is all yours. Wedding plans take care of themselves. Chocolate is just another snack. You can be President. You can never be pregnant. You can wear a white T-shirt to a water park. You can wear NO shirt to a water park. Car mechanics tell you the truth. The world is your urinal. You never have to drive to another gas station restroom because this one is just too icky. You don't have to stop and think of which way to turn a nut on a bolt. Same work, more pay. Wrinkles add character. Wedding dress $5000. Tux rental-$100. People never stare at your chest when you're talking to them. The occasional well-rendered belch is practically expected. New shoes don't cut, blister, or mangle your feet. One mood all the time.
Phone conversations are over in 30 seconds flat. You know stuff about tanks. A five-day vacation requires only one suitcase. You can open all your own jars. You get extra credit for the slightest act of thoughtfulness. If someone forgets to invite you, he or she can still be your friend.
Your underwear is $8.95 for a three-pack. Three pairs of shoes are more than enough. You almost never have strap problems in public. You are unable to see wrinkles in your clothes. Everything on your face stays its original color. The same hairstyle lasts for years, maybe decades. You only have to shave your face and neck.
You can play with toys all your life. Your belly usually hides your big hips. One wallet and one pair of shoes -- one color for all seasons. You can wear shorts no matter how your legs look. You can "do" your nails with a pocket knife. You have freedom of choice concerning growing a mustache.
You can do Christmas shopping for 25 relatives on December 24 in 25 minutes.
No wonder men are happier.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
My personality.
Compared to several years ago, I have changed dramatically. I know this is relatively random, but I'm going to list how I've changed. I've just been thinking about it a lot.
1) I prefer to be alone rather than with others.
2) I'd rather read or watch a movie than go out.
3) I don't like to adventure, and I am a relatively "safe" person.
4) I stand up for my beliefs like crazy.
5) I'm even more head strong than I was previously.
6) All of my emotions and feelings can be read like a book.
7) I am emotionally stronger and I try not to let weakness show if I can help it.
8) My idea of a perfect day is hanging out with the family. All of them.
9) I am far more responsible regarding my well-being.
10) I won't just sit around waiting for opportunities. If I truly want something, I will go for it.
11) I think I've become a bit more indecisive.
12) I know what's important in my life.
13) I focus more on the future than the current.
14) I now judge people more based on their personalities and morals as opposed to looks and who is cool. Ohhhh high school.
15) I care more about what others think of me.
16) I try to make decisions as if someone could look up to me one day and I could be their role model.
17) I am far quieter.
18) I am more inclined to say what's on my mind and what I think about things.
19) I hate the constant learning of school.
20) I like kids quite a bit more.
There is so much more, but my IV is finally done running, so I'm going to bed right this very second.
1) I prefer to be alone rather than with others.
2) I'd rather read or watch a movie than go out.
3) I don't like to adventure, and I am a relatively "safe" person.
4) I stand up for my beliefs like crazy.
5) I'm even more head strong than I was previously.
6) All of my emotions and feelings can be read like a book.
7) I am emotionally stronger and I try not to let weakness show if I can help it.
8) My idea of a perfect day is hanging out with the family. All of them.
9) I am far more responsible regarding my well-being.
10) I won't just sit around waiting for opportunities. If I truly want something, I will go for it.
11) I think I've become a bit more indecisive.
12) I know what's important in my life.
13) I focus more on the future than the current.
14) I now judge people more based on their personalities and morals as opposed to looks and who is cool. Ohhhh high school.
15) I care more about what others think of me.
16) I try to make decisions as if someone could look up to me one day and I could be their role model.
17) I am far quieter.
18) I am more inclined to say what's on my mind and what I think about things.
19) I hate the constant learning of school.
20) I like kids quite a bit more.
There is so much more, but my IV is finally done running, so I'm going to bed right this very second.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Home, home, home!
I'm back home! I'm not feeling a TON better, but I am feeling like I'm on a path to becoming better. For all of you who called me with no reply, it was simply because my phone was on silent because I would try to take naps at many times of the day. Also, Verizon was screwing up because people were calling me and leaving messages, but it wouldn't give me the number that the call came from so I was unable to call some people back. Aunt Sandy, that means you. Loved your message by the way! I love you all and thanks so much for the calls and worries. I decided it would be best to come home quickly and attempt to manage IV's on top of school. If it gets to be too much (I'll be getting about five hours of sleep each night), then I will take a break from school and only do what is 100% necessary and possible. I don't think it will be so bad, but I'm willing to make changes for my health rather than keeping caught up in school. Well, enough for now.
I need sleep, and way too much of it.
I'm home, and that's what matters.
P.S. As for the whiny post I left before I went into the hospital, I apologize. I'm usually not like that and I don't feel it is a good idea to put all of my worries upon others who really don't need them. I'm feeling a lot better about it all now, I was just thinking entirely too much that night. I worried a lot of people by writing that, and I promise I will try as hard as I can to refrain from writing a post that evokes pity ever again. That is definitely not what I want people to think is my main goal! I am emotionally strong, and I always will be. Never let them see your weakness. That's my motto. ;-)
I need sleep, and way too much of it.
I'm home, and that's what matters.
P.S. As for the whiny post I left before I went into the hospital, I apologize. I'm usually not like that and I don't feel it is a good idea to put all of my worries upon others who really don't need them. I'm feeling a lot better about it all now, I was just thinking entirely too much that night. I worried a lot of people by writing that, and I promise I will try as hard as I can to refrain from writing a post that evokes pity ever again. That is definitely not what I want people to think is my main goal! I am emotionally strong, and I always will be. Never let them see your weakness. That's my motto. ;-)
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